The 2017 Vérité Le Désir is a proprietary blend from Sonoma, California, produced by Vérité. This red wine is comprised predominantly of 80% Cabernet Franc, with 17% Merlot and a touch of 3% Malbec. With an alcohol content of 13.8%, it is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
James Suckling awarded this wine a score of 98, describing it as "a very beautiful, succulent red" with notes of "lavender, sage, conifer and rosemary with black and blue fruit." Suckling highlights its full-bodied nature, firm, lightly chewy tannins, and its "sturdy, very elegant finish," suggesting it is ready to drink from 2022 onwards (jamessuckling.com, 4/12/2021).
Jeb Dunnuck also rated the 2017 Le Désir with a stellar 98 points, commending its "wonderful Cabernet Franc floral character" and complex bouquet of "black raspberry, cedarwood, forest floor, violets, rose petals, [and] new leather." Dunnuck emphasizes its medium to full-bodied profile, bright acidity, and "fabulous tannins," concluding that the wine is "another damn near perfect wine from this estate" (jebdunnuck.com, 5/21/2020).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate echoes these sentiments, also giving the wine 98 points. The review notes the meticulous vineyard practices employed by winemaker Pierre Seillan and his daughter Hélène to achieve impressive ripeness in a challenging vintage. The wine is described as having a "medium to deep garnet-purple color," with a bouquet of "kirsch, potpourri, warm plums, and wild blueberries" and hints of "chocolate box, cardamom, and star anise." The palate is praised for its "powerful and wonderfully elegant" nature, with firm, fine-grained tannins and "bold freshness" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 5/30/2020).
Vinous, through reviewer Antonio Galloni, also rates the wine 98 points, calling it "off the charts fabulous" and one of the most compelling wines tasted from Vérité. Galloni describes it as "vertical, heady and extravagantly rich yet not at all overdone," with flavors of "mocha, chocolate, licorice, leather, menthol, pine, and spice" (Vinous, 4/1/2020).
In summary, the 2017 Vérité Le Désir is a highly acclaimed wine with unanimous praise from top reviewers. Its complexity, elegance, and depth make it a standout wine from a challenging vintage.