Vérité Le Desír 2011

Le Désir er Pierre Seillan's kærlighedserklæring til Saint Emilion i almindelig og château Ausonne i særdeleshed. Den er i 2014 skabt på 52% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon og 4% Malbec høstet fra højt beliggende mikroparceller i Alexander Valley, på Chalk Hill, samt i Knights og Bennett Valley. Vinen modner i 20 måneder på nye franske fade inden den klares med æggehvider, sammenstikkes og tappes på flaske uden filtrering og anden efterbehandling. 92 Robert Parker, Jr.: December 2014 "My favorite of the 2011s, it displays lots of mulberry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit intertwined with hints of underbrush as well as a subtle herbaceousness, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful density and sweet tannin" This year started out as another great vintage; cool nights, sunny days and low humidity. The 2011 season had late spring rains and flowering, followed by a not-too-hot summer. It was a long growing season, which produced lower alcohols and very balanced fruit with good acidity and great expression of micro-cru distinction. We began picking September 26th with Merlot from Chalk Hill and finished October 19th with Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Mountain Estate. While Le Désir’s bright and youthful appearance and compelling nose present crunchy blackberry, fresh pomegranate seed, black plum and blueberry, the real star is the floral and herbal signature of the Cabernet Franc, which comes alive on the nose and palate. Fresh rhubarb, dried rosemary, fresh cut flower stems, violet blossoms and green coffee beans all come together to form a signature that could easily be mistaken for an expressive vintage of Cabernet Franc from Saint-Émilion. Only on the palate does this wine truly reveal its Sonoma County parentage, showing a full complement of New World fruit. While compelling now, the 2011 Le Désir will truly blossom with time. 54% Cabernet Franc 36% Merlot 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Malbec