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The 2016 growing season proved, once again, the importance of pruning. By adapting our pruning techniques to each micro-cru, after several years of drought, we worked in concert with Mother Nature to produce grapes that would result in elegant, age-worthy wines in the signature style of La Muse. While we experienced some heat spikes in July, the temperatures during the summer growing season were moderate with some cooler days in late August. This provided the ideal conditions for slower ripening, resulting in less sugar accumulation and producing good acidity in the grapes.
Aromas of crushed ripe blackcurrants, stewed sweet plums, and grenadine harmonize with dried thyme, fresh spearmint, and rose petals. On the palate, complex and vibrant layers of black fruit are accompanied by warm toast, vanilla bean, star anise, and fresh clove. A pronounced iron minerality adds to the chorus of electric flavors and textures, which linger for some time after the last sip. Fine-grained tannins complemented by a backbone of acidity offer both an intensity and a freshness, providing a finish that is unique among New World wines. - Tasting date: May 2019
99 Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, the very deep purple-black colored 2016 Le Désir is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal absolutely stunning scents of potpourri, roses and orange peel over a core of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and dark chocolate with touches of cinnamon stick and cloves plus a waft of forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is exquisitely delicate and refined, with super ripe, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing with epic persistence.
99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck The 2016 Le Desir checks in as 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec. Readers looking for world-class Cabernet Franc should beg, borrow, or steal to get hold of a bottle of this. Incredible floral, violet, forest floor, lead pencil, and cassis notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied red that’s flawlessly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. More intellectual and elegant than the La Joie, it’s still a wine of incredible intensity and class that builds incrementally on the palate, has an exotic, singular character, and the class to evolve for 30 years or more.
96 Points - James Suckling Aromas of dust, currants and black olives. Full body and round, chewy tannins. This is soft and round textured. Juicy and flavorful at the end. Try after 2022.
95 Points - Decanter Muscular and controlled red cherry and raspberry leaf dominate the opening beats of this wine, with white pepper and grilled rosemary coming in through the mid palate. This is an enjoyable wine with a silky texture, round mouthfeel and a confident build up of tannins. Traces of heat are a little distracting, causing the tension to slacken a little towards the finish, but as ever this provides a beautifully nuanced Cabernet Franc counterbalance to the rest of the range.
93 Points - Wine Spectator Intense, with dark plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors pumping through, scored with bittersweet cocoa, dark tobacco and loam accents on the finish. Muscular for sure, but has serious drive. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec. Best from 2020 through 2032.
