Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | U.S.A. > California > Sonoma |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
A blend of 64% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec, 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. 2,500 cases produced.
Seillan said that 2015 (which was still in barrel at the time of my tasting) was the finest vintage of his lifetime, which is strong praise indeed. Certainly, he has three titanic wines aging in the wine cellars. If you want to taste something that is like Château Ausone on steroids, check out the 2015 Le Désir, a blend of 64% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. This huge, ripe wine offers incredible balance, a black/purple color, a stunning nose of crushed rock, white flowers, blueberries and blackberries intermixed with incense and a forest floor component, and an extraordinary integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. This magnificent wine should age effortlessly for 35-40+ years.