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2015 Le Désir
TASTING NOTES
The hallmarks of the 2015 Le Désir are its bright aromatic signature and powerful structure. Pronounced notes of wild strawberry, black cherry, and black raspberry liqueur join with the unmistakable herbal signature of Cabernet Franc, expressing fresh heirloom tomato leaf, new leather, and aged cigar tobacco along with floral notes of lilac and subtle lavender. On the palate, there is a balance between softness and hardness: iron-rich, rocky minerality provides a counterpoint to the clear, driving expression of bright fruit and herbal flavors. This multi-layered and complex wine will unfold over the coming decades, gaining complexity and character with each passing year.
Tasting Date: August 2024
VIGNERON NOTES
"The winter of 2015 was mild and very dry, with very sparse precipitation throughout the months of December and February. Budbreak occurred in mid-March, with continued dry, and uncharacteristically cool weather persisting all the way through spring, delaying bloom to early June. The drought combined with the lengthy spell of cool weather throughout flowering, led to a late fruit-set with naturally low yields and very small clusters of fruit. Thankfully, the spell of cool weather relented by the middle of June, with warm weather perfectly ripening each micro-cru block, endowing the berries with incredibly intense flavor and structure. An early harvest took place between August 31 and September 12, and the quality of this vintage was outstanding."
Vigneron Pierre Seillan
WINE INFORMATION
BARREL AGING: 17 months in French oak, 95% new
COMPOSITION: 64% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec
APPELLATIONS: Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill, Knights Valley
ACCLAIM
100 Points
"...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..."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Robert Parker Wine Advocate, March 2018
SUGGESTED PAIRING
P'TIT BASQUE CHEESE
Hailing from the Basque region of Southwestern France (the Seillan family home), P’tit Basque is a sheep's milk cheese with a mildly firm texture and sweet notes of salted caramel, toasted hazelnut, and foraged mushroom. Freshly shaved into paper-thin layers with a cheese curler, this flavorful cheese is aromatic and savory, creating a perfect accompaniment for the bottle-aged complexity and beautifully firm structure of 2015 Vérité Le Désir. Enjoyed with toasted pain au levain, this pairing will delight the senses.