Verite Le Desir 2018 Magnum (1,5l)

Product info about Verite Le Desir 2018 Magnum (1,5l)

Verite Le Desir 2018 Magnum is a Sonoma County red wine with Cabernet Franc at its centre and a clear inspiration from Saint-Émilion. Within Verite's three main wines, Le Desir is the Cabernet Franc-led blend; in the 2018 vintage it is composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec.

Rather than presenting Sonoma County as a single origin, Verite builds this wine from a range of small vineyard parcels across appellations such as Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill and Knights Valley. The estate refers to these sites as micro-crus, and each lot is handled separately before the final blend is made. For Le Desir, the focus is on Cabernet Franc from cooler sites, with aromatic expression, structure and mineral detail playing an important role.

The 2018 growing season was long and relatively cool, allowing the grapes to ripen steadily while retaining freshness. The fruit was hand-picked in the cool early morning, optically sorted, fermented in separate lots and then matured for 16 months in French oak, 95% of it new. The oak influence is part of the wine's architecture, supported by the depth and structure described in the tasting notes.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this magnum stands out among serious Californian reds because it brings together vintage, origin and format in a very focused way. The 1.5-litre bottle underlines its cellaring-minded nature, while the fact that only the last bottles remain gives this release an added sense of scarcity. Strong scores from respected critics including Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling, JancisRobinson.com and Jane Anson further reflect the standing of this 2018 vintage.

Verite Le Desir 2018 is described as dark and inky in colour, with a purple rim. Its aromatic range moves through crisp cranberry, ripe raspberry, redcurrant, raspberry preserves, mulberry and kirsch, alongside floral notes such as lavender.

The Cabernet Franc-driven spice comes through in dried sage, mint, bay leaf, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon bark and spice cake. Cedar, toasted wood, subtle vanilla, damp earth, truffle and a stony, graphite-like mineral note add further depth.

On the palate it is described as medium to full in body, with fresh acidity and fine to grainy tannins. The finish is long and spicy, carried by red and dark fruit, with a clear yet integrated oak influence.