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Verite Le Desir 2009 / 750 ml.

Item#: 77550

JD9797 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - June 14, 2019
The 2009 Le Desir is mostly Cabernet Franc and is another wine drinking beautifully today. Classic cassis and dark fruits as well as notes of bay leaf, sandalwood, and spice all flow to a full-bodied, elegant, concentrated red that has fine tannins, perfect balance, and one great finish. Drink it over the coming 20–25 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)
ST96+96+? pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2013
Deep ruby-red. Vibrant nose offers cassis, blackberry, licorice, minerals, tobacco leaf and violet. Rich, tactile and deep, offering outstanding energy for the vintage. Boasts a rare combination of explosive fruit intensity and elegance. Builds and echoes dramatically on the vibrant, nuanced finish, which saturates the palate with dark fruits and minerals. This shut down in the glass but my recorked bottle showed uncanny freshness after three days in the refrigerator.
RP9393 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Dec 2013
Another big red is the 2009 Le Desir, a blend of 74% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec. The densest, most tannic, and most forbiddingly backward of the 2009s, it exhibits an inky/purple color along with copious aromas of graphite, spring flowers, blackberries and blueberries as well as a crushed liqueur of chalk-like character, and a huge, multilayered and multi-dimensional finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. It requires 4–5 more years in the cellar, and should keep for three decades. If you have not yet experienced the wines of Verite, they are true connoisseurs’ efforts that should be purchased by those with cold cellars and long lifelines.

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Red Wine

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc | All Grapes: 74% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec

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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Vérité

Critical Acclaim

JD97 97 pts. / Jeb Dunnuck (June 14, 2019)

The 2009 Le Desir is mostly Cabernet Franc and is another wine drinking beautifully today. Classic cassis and dark fruits as well as notes of bay leaf, sandalwood, and spice all flow to a full-bodied, elegant, concentrated red that has fine tannins, perfect balance, and one great finish. Drink it over the coming 20–25 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)

ST96+ 96+? pts. / Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar (May/Jun 2013)

Deep ruby-red. Vibrant nose offers cassis, blackberry, licorice, minerals, tobacco leaf and violet. Rich, tactile and deep, offering outstanding energy for the vintage. Boasts a rare combination of explosive fruit intensity and elegance. Builds and echoes dramatically on the vibrant, nuanced finish, which saturates the palate with dark fruits and minerals. This shut down in the glass but my recorked bottle showed uncanny freshness after three days in the refrigerator.

RP93 93 pts. / Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (29th Dec 2013)

Another big red is the 2009 Le Desir, a blend of 74% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec. The densest, most tannic, and most forbiddingly backward of the 2009s, it exhibits an inky/purple color along with copious aromas of graphite, spring flowers, blackberries and blueberries as well as a crushed liqueur of chalk-like character, and a huge, multilayered and multi-dimensional finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. It requires 4–5 more years in the cellar, and should keep for three decades. If you have not yet experienced the wines of Verite, they are true connoisseurs’ efforts that should be purchased by those with cold cellars and long lifelines.

Where It's From

District / Sonoma County

View more wines from Sonoma County

Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco is one of California's most famous wine districts. While sometimes overshadowed by the reputation of its rival and neighbor, Napa Valley, Sonoma County has a longer history of viticulture and is twice the size of the former.

Thanks in part to a strong diversity of climates within Sonoma County, the district is home to outstanding examples from a whole host of grapes. Sonoma County Pinot Noirs are considered some of the finest in the state, and the Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels are remarkable. Chardonnays come in a variety of styles thanks to the varying temperatures in Sonoma County, and Cabernets and Merlots also thrive here.

Some of the more celebrated viticultural areas in Sonoma County include Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Coast, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Carneros (parts of which fall within Napa Valley).

Region / California

View more wines from California

When it comes to US wine production, California is King. California wines account for almost 90% of all wines produced in the United States each year, and is home to the most celebrated vineyards and producers in the country. California is probably best known for its world-famous Cabernets and Chardonnays, many of which hail from its two most-acclaimed AVAs, Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Other prominent grapes used in California wines include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel (which California made popular).

Country / United States

View more wines from United States

The United States now ranks fourth in the world in wine production behind, France, Italy, and Spain. While about 90% of that wine is produced in California, other states like Oregon, New York, and Washington are establishing themselves as prime spots for wine production, as well. Just about any variety of wine can be found in production somewhere in the United States.

More Information

SKU 77550
Product Type Wine
Alternate Name Vérité Le Désir
Country United States
Region California
District Sonoma County
Product Location - Location-Appellation Sonoma County
Package Size 750 ml.
Wine/Spirit Brand Vérité
Bottles per Case 12
Vintage 2009
Can it Be Shipped Yes
Premier Pick No
Wine Type Table Wine
Wine - Color Red
Grape(s) 74% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec
Primary Grape Cabernet Franc
Dollar Sale (Y/N) No
Same Region, Same Vintage, Same Grape
Bevan Cellars EE | Showket Vineyard 2009 / 750 ml.
Bevan Cellars EE | Showket Vineyard 2009 / 750 ml.

Showket Vineyard
2009 / 750 ml.

RP9191 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011
The 2009 Red Wine EE Cuvee Showket Vineyard flows onto the palate with sweet roses, spices, flowers, all of which come together in a forward, juicy style meant to be enjoyed over the next few years. Floral notes round out the textured finish. This is another soft, totally inviting wine from Russell Bevan. The EE Cuvee is 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2013–2017.
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United States | California | Napa Valley | Oakville

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Château Cos d’Estournel Saint-Estèphe
Château Cos d’Estournel Saint-Estèphe

2010 / 750 ml.

RP9999 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th Mar 2020
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Cos d’Estournel unfurls slowly, measuredly, releasing delicate notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and blackcurrant pastilles before giving way to notions of potpourri, black cherry compote and chocolate box plus touches of dried sage, tobacco and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant. Give it another 4–5 years in bottle and this will be stunning!
RP97+97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Feb 2013
The 2010 is a more structured, restrained, less flamboyant version of the 2009. A final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that hit 14.5% natural alcohol, this wine (which represents only 55% of the estate's production) is full-bodied, classic and built along the lines of the 2000 (although that wine was made before Reybier acquired the estate and upgraded quality significantly). This wine exhibits beautifully pure notes of creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite and hints of toast and vanillin. The wine is full and rich, and although aged in 80% new oak, the wood is a subtle background component. This beauty will take longer to round into shape than the dramatic and compelling 2009. Forget it for 5–8 years, and drink it over the following three-plus decades.
SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2013
An extremely well-sculpted, modern wine, with an enormous core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and cassis fruit to match the ambitious roasted apple wood-, black tea- and tobacco-infused toast. Dense and chewy now, displaying the tannic spine of the vintage, this remains integrated, racy and incredibly long, offering a piercing chalky backbone that rivets everything together. Best from 2018 through 2038.
WE9595 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 5/1/2013
This is a complex and rich wine dominated by superripe fruit. It is a wine of extremes, of fruit, of dark tannins allied to some bitterness from the black chocolate extract. Ripe plums and sweet black fruits are given a lift at the end with bright acidity.
ST94+94+? pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jul/Aug 2013
Full, bright ruby. Superripe but vibrant nose offers liqueur-like cassis, graphite, mocha and exotic oak scents; smells thick! Then plush, dense, large-scaled and seamless, offering extraordinary breadth and a 3-D texture to its dark fruit, graphite and mineral flavors. This very modern style of Cos finishes with outstanding, building, palate-saturating persistence and utterly sweet tannins.
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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Saint-Estephe

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Vérité La Joie
Vérité La Joie

2012 / 750 ml.

RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Oct 2015
The 2012 La Joie, which is a blend of 76% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, blew me away. A profound effort, with 55% of it coming from Hillsides in Alexander Valley, 31% from Knights Valley and the balance from Chalk Hill, the wine shows great minerality, oodles of crème de cassis fruit, incense, licorice, crushed rock, and a provocative full-throttle mouthfeel. A wine of great intensity, purity and equilibrium, this definitely begs for 4–7 years of bottle aging and should drink well for at least 30+ years.
ST95+95–98 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2014
Bright ruby. Pungent, sappy, mineral-driven aromas of dark berries, licorice, bitter chocolate and coffee liqueur. Remarkably layered and deep, boasting great mid-palate energy and spicy lift. Noble tannins saturate the palate on the extremely long, mounting back end. Still a baby (the wine was just racked to tank in late February) but potentially monumental.
VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2016
Dark cherries, smoke, graphite, licorice, menthol and plums are some of the notes that open up in the 2012 La Joie. Here the flavors are bold, intense and incisive, with notable freshness and intensity. Give this large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon-based red another few years in bottle. The finish alone is striking.
VN93+93–95 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2015
The 2012 La Joie hits the palate with serious depth, power and structure. Dark plums, blackberry jam, graphite, grilled herbs and smoke literally jump from the glass. Deep, powerful and brooding, the 2012 is likely to require at least a few years to come together, but it is compelling, even at this early stage.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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More from this Producer
Verite La Muse 2009 / 750 ml.
Verite La Muse 2009 / 750 ml.

2009 / 750 ml.

RP96+96+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Dec 2013
The 2009 La Muse (86% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec; 14.5% alcohol) is a blockbuster offering complex, intense notes of Asian plum sauce, figs, black currants, white chocolate and cedar. The wine reveals an extra level of texture and richness along with full body, an unctuous texture, and a super ripeness and richness that does not go over the top. The tannins are noticeable, but well-integrated as are the new oak and acidity. This big, backstrapping, Merlot-based wine is meant for long-term cellaring. Give it 4–5 more years in the bottle and enjoy it over the following 30 years.
ST9595 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2013
Bright red-ruby. Sweet aromas of black raspberry, bitter chocolate, violet and smoke. Large-scaled, velvety and deep, with outstanding intensity and sweetness to its dark berry, violet and mineral flavors. Boasts a compelling combination of suavity of texture and sheer energy. Extremely long on the aftertaste, with noble tannins barely noticeable today.
SP8888 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2013
Offering layers of fresh-turned earth, spice, dark berry, leather and anise notes, this is chunky and chewy from extracted tannins, with a bitter edge. Ends dry and grainy. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2024. 800 cases made.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Merlot

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Verite Le Desir 2015 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2015 / 750 ml.

2015 / 750 ml.

RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 28th Feb 2018
A blend of 64% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Le Désir is a little reticent at this very youthful stage, offering glimpses at dusty soil, iron ore, black truffles and salami notes over a core of red currant jelly, black raspberries, blackberries and star anise plus a waft of roses. Medium-bodied, very firm and very elegant yet incredibly intense in the mouth, it delivers loads of red fruit and earthy layers, finishing with great length and depth. 2,500 cases produced.
JS9898 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Monday, December 17, 2018
Love the aromas of black cherries and blackberries, violets and roses. Stunning. Full-bodied, layered and dense with focus and precision. Full tannins, yet compressed and polished. A great cabernet franc-based red. Give this four to five years of bottle age before drinking but already beautiful to taste
VN96+96–98 pts. - Vinous - Mar 2017
The 2015 Le Désir brings together striking aromatic lift from the Cabernet Franc with the dark, sumptuous fruit of the year. Chocolate, mocha, plum, licorice, crème de cassis and pencil shavings add striking aromatic nuance. This is a dazzling wine from the Seillan family.
VN96+96–98 pts. - Vinous - Apr 2018
The 2015 Le Désir, Vérité’s Cabernet Franc-based red, is racy and sumptuous in the glass. Bright floral notes give lift to the red-toned fruit as this silky yet powerful wine shows off its alluring personality.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Verite La Joie 2009 / 750 ml.
Verite La Joie 2009 / 750 ml.

2009 / 750 ml.

RP9696 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Dec 2013
The 2009 La Joie (14.5% natural alcohol, and a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec) boasts an opaque purple color along with abundant notes of wood spice, barbecued meat, new saddle leather, creme de cassis and forest floor. Rich, full-bodied and powerful with moderately high tannins, it needs to be forgotten for 5–7 years, and drunk over the following 25–30 years.
ST95+95+ pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2013
Bright, full ruby. Complex, vibrant aromas of cassis, cherry pit, licorice and graphite, with a floral topnote building as the wine opens in the glass. Dense, pliant and suave, with a compellingly layered, fine-grained texture to the dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. A wine of major dimension but today the firm, noble tannins clamp down on the fruit. I’d love to see this again in six or seven years — in a flight of top 2009 Medoc wines.
SP8888 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2013
Dense and chewy, this presents a rugged mix of textures, featuring flavors of crushed rock and dried berry, with a dash of cream and bitter mocha woven in. Finishes with drying, extracted tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Best from 2014 through 2024. 1,000 cases made.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Verite La Joie 2017 / 750 ml.
Verite La Joie 2017 / 750 ml.

2017 / 750 ml.

JD100100 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 5/21/2020
Tasting like a great bottle of Château Lafite, the 2017 La Joie is based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon and brought up, I suspect, in mostly new French oak. Deep ruby/purple, with a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil, cedarwood, graphite, and tobacco, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, an incredible sense of elegance and purity, building tannins, and a great, great finish. This majestic, regal Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is going to require a decade of cellaring to hit maturity (although it’s far from unapproachable today) and will see its 50th birthday in fine form. I followed this bottle for three days and it never showed a hint of oxidation. This is easily my wine of the vintage in 2017. (Jeb Dunnuck)
RP98+98+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th May 2020
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2017 La Joie has a very deep garnet-purple color. It opens a little closed and broody, giving glimpses of blackcurrant cordial, espresso, charcoal and black truffles to begin, before blossoming out to a whole array of preserved black and blue fruits, dusty soil, crushed rocks and iron ore scents plus a waft of roses. The medium to full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, with firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone supporting the muscular fruit, finishing very long and mineral laced. The alcohol weighed in at just 13.9% this year (14% on the label), making for a particularly elegant but no less impactful La Joie! 2,500 cases were made.
VN9696 pts. - Vinous - Apr 2020
The 2017 La Joie is another gorgeous wine in this lineup. Deep, pliant and nuanced, the 2017 is impeccably balanced. Silky and plush, La Joie is especially refined in 2017, and that complements its mid-weight structure so nicely. Hints of rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange add brightness. The 2017 is a stunning wine by any measure.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Verite Le Desir 2012 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2012 / 750 ml.

2012 / 750 ml.

RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Oct 2015
The 2012 Le Desir (64% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec) reminds me of a young vintage of Ausone, such as 2005. The wine has amazing minerality and an explosive blueberry nose intermixed with blackberries, new saddle leather, charcoal and camphor. It is full-bodied, with espresso notes emerging on the palate. There are 1,900 cases of this super-endowed, prodigious wine that should drink well for 35–40 years. How fun it would be for mega-millionaires to put this in a blind tasting of a great vintage of Ausone in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
ST95+95–98 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2014
Bright, deep ruby. Seriously dark aromas of cassis, violet, bitter chocolate and espresso. Hugely rich and ripe but with uncanny energy and definition to the flavors of black raspberry and musky bitter chocolate. This has the density of a top vintage of Chateau Ausone. Finishes with a boatload of ripe tannins that are buffered by the wine’s palate-staining fruit. Another monument in the making.
VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2016
The 2012 Le Désir is striking. It is also the richest and most powerful of the Vérité 2012s. An exotic, alluring bouquet melds into layers of dark red fruit as this ample, voluptuous wine shows off its personality. The 2012 simply oozes with Cabernet Franc floral and spice notes. Although the 2012 is quite expressive today, it will be even better with more time. Over the last few years the Désir has clearly emerged as Vérité’s top wine. Today, it is absolutely gorgeous, although it needs time to be at its best.
VN94+94–96 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2015
The Cabernet Franc-based 2012 Le Désir is the most aromatic and nuanced of these three 2012s. Savory herbs, mocha and spices meld into a core of punchy pomegranate and red stone fruit in a wine that is both silky and powerful. Here, too, readers can look forward to a long drinking window that will last two decades or so. In 2012, Le Désir is all about finesse.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Verite Le Desir 2014 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2014 / 750 ml.

2014 / 750 ml.

RP9898 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 28th Oct 2016
The 2014 Le Désir (53% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec) has an inky purple color and a sweet kiss of chocolate, black truffle, forest floor, black raspberry and black currants. Opulent, but again structured and super-dense and pure, this is another massively concentrated wine meant for the long haul (and for our grandchildren). Give it 4–6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 35–40 years. Remarkably, Pierre Seillan told me that 2014, while a drought year, was not actually that hot in the micro-terroirs he was working, but in terms of quality, it turned out to be the most surprisingly positive vintage he’s ever witnessed.
VN9797 pts. - Vinous - Mar 2017
The 2014 Le Désir is the most inward of these 2014s from Vérité. Dark raspberry jam, wild flowers, spice, pencil shavings, mocha, lavender and licorice infuse this deep, powerful, structured Cabernet Franc-based blend. The interplay of dense, sumptuous fruit and aromatic freshness makes for an absolutely compelling wine.
SP9191 pts. - Wine Spectator - May 7, 2020
This shows a mix of floral, herb and spice notes out front, followed quickly by cassis and plum puree flavors that streak through a long, polished finish, where the herb accents reemerge. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2025. 2,483 cases made. (James Molesworth)
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Verite Le Desir 2018 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2018 / 750 ml.

2018 / 750 ml.

JD98+98+ pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 7/22/2021
The Cabernet Franc blend of the trio, the 2018 Le Desir is 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec, and as with all these wines, it was brought up in new barrels. Ruby/purple and not completely opaque, it offers up a classic Cabernet Franc nose of mostly red fruits, spring flowers, damp earth, cedary spices, and truffle. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shines for its incredible elegance and purity more than outright power, yet it still brings plenty of richness. With ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and one heck of a great finish, it’s another great, great wine from this estate. (Jeb Dunnuck)
RP97+97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Jul 2021
Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, the 2018 Le Désir was aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer glimpses at notes of kirsch, raspberry preserves and mulberry scents, plus hints of cedar chest, crushed rocks, bay leaves, Sichuan pepper and lavender with a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has tons of freshness to support the melange of preserved red and black fruits, textured by grainy tannins, finishing with a lingering peppery kick. It may require just a little more time to come around than the La Joie and La Muse, and then I suspect this beauty is going to reward the patient.
JS9797 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Blackberry, violet and crushed stone on the nose. Pure fruit, but reserved and tensioned. Full-bodied with firm, tight tannins and a long finish. Some tightness. The tannins spread across the palate, so integrated and toned yet chewy. A structured and almost steely wine. 82% cabernet franc, 12% merlot and 6% malbec. Better after 2024.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Verite La Muse 2018 / 750 ml.
Verite La Muse 2018 / 750 ml.

2018 / 750 ml.

RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Jul 2021
A blend of 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, the 2018 La Muse was matured 16 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose delivers a powerful perfume of cherry pie, blackberry preserves and baked plums, followed by suggestions of red roses, cast-iron pan, underbrush and unsmoked cigars, plus wafts of licorice and oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the black fruit and exotic spice layers flow so gracefully over the palate, textured by plush tannins and lifted with seamless freshness, finishing epically long and achingly fragrant. The intensity and complexity of aromas and flavors — all waltzing in captivating harmony—cannot fail to make your head spin in the best possible way. Electrifying!
JD9999 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 7/22/2021
Checking in as 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec that was raised in new French oak, the 2018 La Muse reveals a dense purple hue to go with plenty of black cherry and currant fruits as well as cedar pencil, graphite, dark chocolate, and smoked tobacco. Ripe, full-bodied, and brilliantly balanced on the palate, with both elegance and incredible opulence, it’s a hypothetical mix of Châteaux Canon and Lafite. This masterpiece of a Merlot can be drunk any time over the coming 20–30 years. Give bottles an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JS9898 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Monday, August 2, 2021
One of the most refined and tight Muses with blackberries, milk chocolate, pine needles and hints of dried herbs. Full-bodied, yet so in check with a great finish. It’s seamless and goes on and one. Intellectual, compared to past vintages. 90% merlot with some malbec and cabernet franc. Try after 2026, but attractive now.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Merlot

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Verite Le Desir 2017 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2017 / 750 ml.

2017 / 750 ml.

JD98+98+ pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 5/21/2020
Lastly, the 2017 Le Desir is 80% Cabernet Franc, with the balance mostly Merlot mixed with a splash of Malbec. It has a wonderful Cabernet Franc floral character as well as awesome black raspberry, cedarwood, forest floor, violets, rose petals, new leather, and who knows what else. Incredibly complex, it takes lots of air to show at its best and is medium to full-bodied, has a bright spine of acidity, fabulous tannins, and a great, great finish. The elegance of this wine paired with its richness and depth is something to behold. It’s another damn near perfect wine from this estate, and to see this quality from a challenging vintage like 2017 boggles the mind. Hats off to the father-daughter team of Pierre and Hélène Seillan. (Jeb Dunnuck)
RP9898 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th May 2020
Blended of 80% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot and 3% Malbec, the 2017 Le Désir has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It comes galloping out of the glass with all the grace and precision of a thoroughbred, sporting notions of kirsch, potpourri, warm plums and wild blueberries plus hints of chocolate box, cardamom and star anise. The medium-bodied palate (just 13.9% alcohol) is at once powerful and wonderfully elegant, with firm, very fine-grained, exquisitely ripe tannins and bold freshness supporting the red and blue fruit layers, finishing with incredible length and depth. Wow! 2,500 cases were made.
VN9898 pts. - Vinous - Apr 2020
The 2017 Le Désir is off the charts fabulous and also one of the most compelling wines I have tasted from Vérité. Mocha, chocolate, licorice, leather, menthol, pine and spice soar out of the glass. The 2017 is vertical, heady and extravagantly rich yet not at all overdone, a hugely appealing combination in my book.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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Verite La Muse 2012 / 750 ml.
Verite La Muse 2012 / 750 ml.

2012 / 750 ml.

RP9797 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Oct 2015
The 2012 La Muse, which is 85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, is a smaller cuvée of 1,840 cases. The wine has plenty of spice box, cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake and Asian plum sauce, along with black cherry and blackcurrant fruit. Ripe, round, full-bodied and opulent, this is a wine that can be drunk now or cellared for another three decades. Interestingly, the alcohol levels are not all that high in any of these wines, with most of them rarely exceeding 14.3%.
ST94+94–97 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2014
Deep ruby. Wonderfully pure aromas and flavors of crushed cassis, minerals and exotic spices. Huge, sweet and plush but utterly primary for a wine with so much flesh. Boasts the chocolatey richness of a topnotch Pomerol from a great year, but the wine’s huge, ripe tannins will require at least five or six years of aging. Finishes with outstanding length.
VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2016
The 2012 La Muse is plump, juicy and forward; in other words a very typical expression of this vintage. Now at nearly five years of age, the 2012 is beginning to develop pretty aromatic notes that add complexity and nuance. Sweet tobacco, licorice, raspberry jam, mint and anise are all pushed forward. With time in the glass, the 2012 turns delicate and more refined, but it also seems to be going through a bit of a lull today.
VN93+93–95 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2015
Mocha, chocolate, dark plums, smoke and cloves are some of the notes that inform the 2012 La Muse. Dark, sumptuous and impeccably balanced, the 2012 is super-impressive. The flavors are bold and intense, and while there is plenty of size and volume, the wine’s balance is simply impeccable. I imagine the 2012 will reward drinkers with a good 20 years or so of very fine drinking pleasure.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Merlot

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