Verite Le Desir Red Blend 2021 bottle shot
98
Red SelectionJune 2026

Verite Le Desir Red Blend 2021

Cabernet Franc$295

"The 2021 VĂ©ritĂ© Le DĂ©sir is a prestigious Cabernet Franc-based blend from Sonoma County, inspired by the iconic wines of Saint-Émilion. This vintage presents a dark ruby-purple appearance and an exuberant bouquet of violet blossom, black tea, and crushed walnut shell, complemented by layers of blackcurrant and plum. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and well-structured, balancing firm tannins with vibrant acidity and savory notes of graphite and petrichor minerality. Boasting exceptional scores including a 100-point rating from James Suckling, this refined red blend is approachable now after decanting but possesses the depth and tension to age gracefully for decades."

Terroir

Sonoma County, California

Drinking Window

2027 - 2048

Serving Temp

62-65°F (16-18°C)

Aging Potential

Exceptional

Sommelier Food Pairings

Herb-roasted lambMushroom WellingtonDuck confit
Shop this Vintage — $295

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The Full Tasting Note

How this bottle showed at our tasting bench

Nose

Violet blossom, black tea, and crushed walnut shell over blackcurrant and plum — an exuberant, Saint-Émilion-inspired bouquet.

Palate

Full-bodied and firmly structured; Cabernet Franc aromatics ride vibrant acidity with graphite and wet-stone minerality threading throughout.

Finish

Savory and tense, dark fruit resolving into petrichor and fine mineral grip.

What We Love

  • A 100-point James Suckling wine that showcases Cabernet Franc — Sonoma's most underrated noble grape
  • Pierre Seillan's 'micro-cru' approach yields genuine Right Bank character in California
  • Decades of graceful evolution ahead

What to Know

  • Needs a serious decant young — the structure dominates the fruit without air
  • $295 positions it against actual Saint-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus, a brutal comparison set

How It Compares

Both are Bordeaux love letters written in California soil: the Dominus channels the Left Bank through Cabernet Sauvignon, the Le DĂ©sir the Right Bank through Cabernet Franc. Tasting them side by side is a masterclass in blend philosophy. Read our Dominus Estate Bordeaux 2016 review →

Convinced? Buy the Verite Le — $295

Complete the Experience

Sommelier-recommended gear for this bottle

Riedel Ultra Decanter
Service

Riedel Ultra Decanter

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Electric Wine Aerator & Decanter Pump
Tools

Electric Wine Aerator & Decanter Pump

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Coravin Timeless Three Plus Wine Preservation System- Black
Tools

Coravin Timeless Three Plus Wine Preservation System- Black

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Verite Le Desir Red Blend 2021

98 pts ‱ Cabernet Franc

Buy — $295