The first vintage of Verite's Le Desir, the 2000 is a blend of 51% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Jess Jackson's Sonoma vineyards. This well-made wine exhibits fruitcake notes intermixed with round, herbaceously tinged berry fruit and a hint of subtle oak in its medium to full-bodied, tasty, spicy personality. Fully mature, it will not be long lived by the standards of Verite, but it should continue to drink well for another 5-6 years.

A tough, brittle young wine. It is so tannic, you have to think about what the winemaker intended. There seems to be a core of black cherry fruit that could live long enough to age, but who knows?——S.H.(11/15/2003)—— 86