2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1995 | 1993 | 1992
95
2020 Chaleur Estate
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Chaleur Estate is firm, fresh and floral with notions of elegant red berries and oak tones on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and focused, the palate offers a clean frame of picturesque cherries and red plums while exuding finesse and precision. Balanced, complex and lively, the wine continues to evolve over the long-lingering, food-friendly finish. Only 7,272 bottles were made after the wine spent almost two years in all-new French oak barrels. Drink from 2024-2042
Anthony Mueller | May 2023 | ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE
95
2020 Chaleur Estate
Plenty of ripe blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, graphite, and lead pencil notes emerge from the 2020 Chaleur Estate, an ultra-classic, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Petit Verdot. With good concentration, terrific purity, and building tannins, it should benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and have two decades of longevity.
Jeb Dunnuck | Jun 2023 | jebdunnuck.COM
94
2020 Chaleur Estate
Energetic and bright-fruited cabernet with notes of red and black currants, mulberries, orange peel, licorice and wild herbs. It’s full-bodied, with firm, fine tannins and so much energy. Coffee notes come through on the lengthy finish. Drink from 2024.
James Suckling | May 2023 | Jamessuckling.com
92
2020 Chaleur Estate
A blend of 63 percent cabernet sauvignon and 24 percent merlot, the balance franc and petit verdot, this wine is spicy with scents of clove, cedar and allspice. The sunshine inherent in the fruit brings you to Washington in a black-raspberry burst of color and flavor. The chocolatey grip of tannins on the finish awaits a flank steak.
Patrick J. Comiskey | APR 2023 | WINE & SPIRITS
91
2020 Chaleur Estate
This wine’s aromas took me back to a campfire cookout. Whiffs of black cherry cobbler, black coffee and bacon fat come with traces of balsa and wet stones. Flavors recall dark plum, dark chocolate and a fresh-whittled stick of white walnut. Enjoy this wine under the stars.
Michael Alberty | APR 2023 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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93
2019 Chaleur Estate
Broad-shouldered yet open-textured, with deep blackberry and blueberry flavors that take on smoky spice and black olive accents. Finishes with a mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.
Tim Fish | Jun 2022 | Wine Spectator
95
2019 Chaleur Estate
The 2019 Chaleur Estate is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend that includes 24% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Where the Harrison Hill always reminds me of a great Margaux, this is more St. Julien or Pauillac in style with its darker currants, crushed stone, spicy oak, and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, wonderfully balanced, elegant, and seamless, it has enough background oak to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age (it’s far from unapproachable, though) and will have 20-25 years of overall longevity. It’s another gorgeous wine from this estate.
JEB DUNNUCK | Jul 2022 | JEBDUNNUCK.COM
93
2019 Chaleur Estate
Aromas of sweet red fruit, tobacco leaf and vanilla. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Vanilla and cream drive the palate, with notes of leather and sage. A bit of orange peel, too. Good focus and length. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Best from 2024
James Suckling | APR 2022 | Jamessuckling.com
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92
2018 Chaleur Estate
Broad-shouldered yet refined, with handsomely layered black currant, crushed stone and tobacco accents that build tension toward medium-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 700 cases made.
Tim Fish | Jun 2022 | Wine Spectator
92
2018 Chaleur Estate
The 2018 Chaleur is mostly cabernet sauvignon and merlot—90 percent—with the balance cabernet franc and petit verdot, all from Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun vineyards. It is as massive as a ship, with an aroma of fruit skin and crayon wax, dark and savory, wildly intense, needing years in the cellar before you uncork it—ideally, for a steak.
Patrick J. Comiskey | Dec 2021 | WINE & SPIRITS
95
2018 Chaleur Estate
Showing more tar and scorched earth tones than the Harrison Hill, the 2018 Chaleur Estate presents an exotic bouquet of Arabica bean mingled with blue and black fruits and loamy soil undertones. The palate is elegant and silky, as refined tannins caress the layers of boysenberry, black cherry cordial and spice box. Gorgeous now, but this has a long way to go.
Owen Bargreen | Mar 2022 | VINOUS
91
2018 Chaleur Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon comprises 61% of this wine, with the balance Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%). Locked up aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, coffee and spice are followed by sophisticated coffee and chocolate flavors. It shows surprising restraint given the warmth of the vintage and appellation. Best after 2026. Cellar Selection
Sean P. Sullivan | Oct 2021 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
94+
2018 Chaleur Estate
One of the flagships from this reference point estate, the 2018 Chaleur Estate checks in as 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. Solid notes of red and black currants, tobacco, dried flowers, and lead pencil define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, balanced texture, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with all of these 2018s, it’s not a blockbuster, but it has a wonderful complexity as well as elegance.
JEB DUNNUCK | May 2021 | JEBDUNNUCK.COM
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93
2017 Chaleur Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) and Merlot (25%) make up the heart of this wine, with the rest Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot. The aromas show complexity, with notes of barrel spice, plum, cherry, scorched earth, herb and licorice. Structured, rich fruit flavors with lively acids, big tannins and a hyperextended finish follow. It will have a very long life ahead of it. Best after 2027.
Sean P. Sullivan | Dec 2020 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
94
2017 Chaleur Estate
Deep red with ruby tones. Intriguing scents of cassis, licorice, tree bark, cedar, peppery herbs and burning cinders; not quite as black in its aromas as the 2016. Large-scaled, plush and classically dry; a wine of outstanding dimension and silky mouthfilling texture. Flavors of raspberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, cinders and dried flowers saturate the palate without showing any undue weight. As seamless and deep as this is, it comes across as even drier than the Harrison Hill. The utterly seamless finish features noble tannins and penetrating, slowly mounting floral/herbal length. Outstanding! (aged for 20 months in 100% new oak)
Stephen Tanzer | Dec 2020 | VINOUS
92
2017 Chaleur Estate
About two-thirds cabernet sauvignon, the balance merlot, franc and petit verdot, this starts off reductive, until a wave of herbed blue fruit emerges, pure and sleek. It is a stalwart wine, elegant and upright. For an herbed pork chop.
Patrick J. Comiskey | Oct 2020 | WINE & SPIRITS
93
2017 Chaleur Estate
Made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Chaleur Estate begins subdued in the glass. After spinning the glass for half a minute, the wine shows dusty cherry and silky baking spices from the 100% new French oak. Full-bodied, with a grippy tannic edge and energetic acidity, the wine hugs the palate with a firm frame. Finishing with a red-fruited frame and dusty mineral grip, the wine needs more time to come around. It will fill out with age.
Anthony Mueller | OCT 2020 | Wine Advocate
91
2017 Chaleur Estate
Shows brooding muscularity, with expressive blackberry, tobacco and cinnamon-mocha accents. The tannins build on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2029.
Tim FIsh | SEP 2020 | WINE SPECTATOR
92
2017 Chaleur Estate
The 2017 Chaleur Estate can be thought of as the flagship Bordeaux blend and comes from multiple sites throughout the Columbia Valley. Slightly closed and reticent, yet with outstanding purity in its black cherry and currant fruits, it has subtle chocolaty oak and lead pencil nuances, medium body, silky, ripe tannins, and beautiful balance on the palate. It’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise of 15 years in cold cellars.
Jeb Dunnuck | Apr 2020 | jebdunnuck.COM
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94
2016 Chaleur Estate
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Chaleur Estate has an exquisite core of fruit and a classic expressions of a Cabernet blend on the nose. Full-bodied in the mouth, robust dusty cherries with a black-fruited core coat the palate with a delicate mineral tension that is lively and energetic, showing both complexity and precision. The elegant French oak tones are more present on the long-lingering finish that comes to completion with structured tannins. Only 400 cases were made.
Anthony Mueller | Dec 2019 | 246, The Wine Advocate
94
2016 Chaleur Estate
This is the 25th vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon (63%) dominated blend, which is rounded out with Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The aromas are brooding, with notes of scorched earth, black cherry, licorice, graphite and barrel spice. Velvety, full-bodied dark chocolate and cherry flavors follow. It brings a pleasing sense of subtlety along with a lick of acidity that augurs well for its longevity. Give it time for the oak to integrate. Best after 2027 with a very long life beyond that.
Sean P. Sullivan | OCT 2019 | WINE Enthusiast
94+
2016 Chaleur Estate
Bright ruby-red. Pungent lift to the aromas of cassis, boysenberry, violet, wild herbs and licorice. Dense, intense and fine-grained, with an exciting balance of sweetness and acidity to the flavors of dark berries, licorice and cocoa powder. Boasts a serious tannic spine for extended aging. The berries were larger than normal in 2016, noted Gorski, but the production here was still just under three tons per acre. (94% new oak)
Stephen Tanzer | Dec 2019 | Vinous.com
95+
2016 Chaleur Estate
The flagship and made in decent quantities, the 2016 Chaleur Estate is a brilliant wine that unquestionably stands up with the top Bordeaux blends in the world. Based on 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that was brought up all in new French oak, it reveals a deep purple color as well as powerful notes of black fruits, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and scorched earth. Deep, full-bodied, and beautifully layered, with subtle background oak and building structure, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades.
Jeb Dunnuck | Apr 2019 | jebdunnuck.COM
93
2016 Chaleur Estate
Aromas of graphite and dark berries lead to a fresh and fluid palate that carries a long, sleek serving of fine, ripe and polished tannins. This holds flavor and fleshy texture impressively long with some toasty oak that dresses the finish in fine style. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot. Try from 2022.
James Suckling | JUl 2019 | jamessuckling.com
93
2016 Chaleur Estate
Impressively structured, with multilayered currant, crushed stone and smoky bay leaf notes that build richness toward big but well-groomed tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2027.
Tim Fish | JUN 2019 | WINE Spectator
93
2016 Chaleur Estate
From 2016’s warm vintage, this blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon and merlot feels at once coiled and burly when first uncorked. It takes several days to open, and then feels like a classic in the mode of a Bordeaux, with scents of cedar and black plum, the flavors vinous and dark, a firm tannic structure and a lasting and seductive succulence. Worthy of cellaring, or decanting tonight for lamb chops off the grill. (450 cases)
Jun 2019 | WINE & SPIRITS
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94
2015 Chaleur Estate
While I always think of the Harrison Hill release as the Margaux in the lineup, the Chaleur is much more Pauillac/Saint Julien in style. The 2015 Chaleur Estate checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. It’s a full-bodied, deep, concentrated effort that offers terrific cassis and black cherry fruits, graphite, scorched earth, licorice, and crushed rock-like minerality. Like all the 2015s from Delille, it has an elegant, pure, focused style and is beautifully balanced.
JEB DUNNUCK | APR 2018 | JEBDUNNUCK.COM
94
2015 Chaleur Estate
Chaleur Estate is about two-thirds cabernet with the balance merlot and cabernet franc. The 2015 is a formidable wine, lost in its structure when first poured, all waxy and granular. But with air, the flavors open into dusty blue-plum fruit. It’s firm and dense, and yet it moves, like a tree trying to walk with a thick trunk, as impressive for its movement as its ballast. (380 cases)
OCT 2018 | WINE & SPIRITS
93
2015 Chaleur Estate
(92% new oak): Dark red-ruby. Aromas of cassis, raspberry, blueberry and licorice, plus a whiff of lead pencil. Plush, sexy and sweet, boasting complex, highly concentrated flavors of dark berries, spicy oak and cocoa powder. Finishes very rich but quite primary, with terrific lingering boysenberry fruit and a rather muscular framework. A large-scaled, spicy Red Mountain blend with serious old-vines complexity and depth–and balanced from the start. According to winemaker Jason Gorski, this Cabernet was picked in October even in this very warm growing season. (14.2% alcohol)
Stephen Tanzer | Jul 2018 | Vinous.com
92+
2015 Chaleur Estate
Offering up aromas of cassis, menthol, loamy soil and cherries, the 2015 Chaleur Estate is medium to full-bodied, rich and chewy, with a nice core of fruit but rather assertive, chewy tannins that might equally easily be derived from barrel or seeds. I suspect this will always be rather firm and tannic, but I wouldn’t bet against it mellowing with time. It’s a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
William Kelley | Jun 2018 | 237, The Wine Advocate
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95
2014 Chaleur Estate
A more open, charming and sexy red compared to the 2013, Delille’s 2014 Chaleur Estate comes all from Red Mountain and is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in new French oak, this beauty offers a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, chocolate and espresso roast. Reminding me of a first or second growth Pauillac from a warm year, with more mineral, tobacco and earth coming through with air, this full-bodied, impeccably balanced 2014 has sweet tannin, nicely integrated acidity and a good finish. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
Jeb Dunnuck | JUN 2017 | 231, THE WINE ADVOCATE
94
2014 Chaleur Estate
Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blueberry, plum, cocoa powder and violet are lifted by sexy spicy oak. Very rich, large-scaled and densely packed, boasting outstanding breadth to its flavors of currant, chocolate, anise and brown spices. Classically dry, very deep wine with an intriguing salinity and outstanding chocolatey length. As with a couple of the other DeLille wines from Bordeaux varieties, this one is complicated by captivating Christmas spices.
STEPHEN TANZER | JUL 2017 | VINOUS.COM
93
2014 Chaleur Estate
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot offers dried black cherry, fruit leather, barrel spice, espresso, graphite, cassis, anise and scorched earth aromas. They lead to broad, textured but supple fruit flavors and a fruit-filled finish. Firm, integrated tannins provide support. Best 2023–2028.
Sean P. Sullivan | Sep 2018 | WINE Enthusiast
90
2014 Chaleur Estate
Taut, but focused and well-built, with smoky black cherry, tobacco and spice notes framed by burly, ripe tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2018. 875 cases made.
Tim Fish | Jul 2017 | WINE spectator
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93
2013 Chaleur Estate
The Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 2013 Chaleur Estate (there’s smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc) was brought up in new French oak and has a classic, beautiful bouquet of cassis, cedar, tobacco leaf, gamey meats and graphite. This gives way to a full-bodied, structured, tannic Cabernet that has beautiful purity, a big, mouth-filling texture and a killer finish. This is a serious effort that needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will have two to three decades of overall longevity.
JEB DUNNUCK | JUN 2016 | 225, THE WINE ADVOCATE
93
2013 Chaleur Estate
Bright medium ruby. Sexy, nuanced scents of currant, black raspberry, cocoa powder, licorice and graphite. Wonderfully silky, plush and chocolatey, hinting at an almost porty ripeness; seems considerably riper than the 2012 version. Long hang time here brought outstanding density and richness. Finishes with big, ripe, noble tannins and outstanding length. This beauty will be approachable early.
Stephen Tanzer | Jul 2016 | Vinous.com
92
2013 Chaleur Estate
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine offers aromas of pencil lead, blackberry and incense, with mint and other herbs in the background. The flavors are rich yet demonstrate restraint, with the tannins showing exceptional polish. It wins on finesse rather than power.
SEAN P. SULLIVAN | SEP 2016 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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95+
2012 Chaleur Estate
The 2012 Chaleur Estate is truly terrific, with classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, chocolate and damp earth. Almost Bordeaux-like in its structure and focus on the palate, it has nicely integrated acidity, beautiful concentration and plenty of tannic grip that comes through on the finish. While not lacking in texture or concentration, the overall impression here is one of focus, purity and balance, and it won’t hit prime time for another 4-7 years. This is a young, beautifully put together Washing State Cabernet Sauvignon that will have 25 years or more of overall longevity.
JEB DUNNUCK | JUN 2015 | 219, THE WINE ADVOCATE
94+
2012 Chaleur Estate
(the blend here is almost identical to that of the Harrison Hill): Bright medium ruby. Coolish aromas and flavors of blueberry, redcurrant, plum liqueur, cocoa powder, licorice, graphite and tobacco leaf. Cool, suave and deep, communicating outstanding intensity and floral lift. Finishes with utterly noble, firm tannins and superb building length. This beauty reminded me of a top Saint-Julien wine.
STEPHEN TANZER | JUL 2015 | VINOUS.COM
92
2012 Chaleur Estate
More than 75% of this wine comes from Ciel du Cheval vineyard, with the rest from Upchurch. A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it’s reserved at present, with light aromas of woodspice, coffee, assorted dried herbs and mineral. The cherry and cassis flavors show a mixture of richness and restraint, persisting on the finish along with enough tannins to go the distance. It will be best 2022–2027.
SEAN P. SULLIVAN | SEP 2015 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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94
2011 Chaleur Estate
The 2011 Chaleur Estate is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend from this estate that does everything right. Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it gives up textbook creme de cassis, toast, lead pencil and cedar to go with a full-bodied, rich, layered and seamless style. Gaining richness in the glass, enjoy this concentrated, balanced effort over the coming two decades.
JEB DUNNUCK | JUN 2014 | 213, THE WINE ADVOCATE
92+
2011 Chaleur Estate
(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc): Deep red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, tobacco, peat and menthol. Broad but tight and classically dry; much less showy than the Harrison Hill today but with plenty of incipient complexity and depth of fruit. Finishes with saline soil tones and subtle minerality. Not overly tannic but nonetheless extremely backward today and in need of six or seven years of cellaring. 92(+?)
STEPHEN TANZER | DEC 2014 | VINOUS.COM
91
2011 Chaleur Estate
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc from Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval, and Upchurch vineyards, this wine offers brooding notes of bittersweet chocolate, assorted red and black fruit, licorice, mineral and high-toned dried herbs. Reserved in style, it’s full of coffee and cherry flavors, with mouthwatering acids and enough structure to go the distance.
SEAN P. SULLIVAN | MAR 2015 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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94
2010 Chaleur Estate
Along the same lines quality-wise, yet with more spice, toast, sage and hints of bay leaf, the 2010 Chaleur Estate has lavish richness and depth in the mouth, with superb mid-palate concentration, masses of ripe tannin and a knockout finish. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that’s from the Ciel du Cheval, Upchurch and Klipsun Vineyards, it is a serious Cabernet Sauvignon that will have 15-20 years of longevity. Decant if drinking anytime soon. Drink 2017-2028+.
Jeb Dunnuck | Jun 2013 | 207, The Wine Advocate
93
2010 Chaleur Estate
(65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 10% cabernet franc): Deep red-ruby. Very dark, vibrant aromas of cassis, blueberry and black cherry. Dense, sappy and sweet, showing outstanding intensity to the cassis, pomegranate and cocoa powder flavors. Finishes with a firm tannic spine and outstanding length and lift. Balanced from day one but I’d love to revisit this wine in ten years’ time.
Stephen Tanzer | Nov 2013 | Vinous.com
92
2010 Chaleur Estate
Built upon generous, sweet and pretty cherry and cassis fruit, this drinks well now, but could be cellared until 2020. Tannins are ripe and polished, and the natural acidity carries a finishing lick of citrus.
PAUL GREGUTT | Jul 2014 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
91
2010 Chaleur Estate
Taut and tannic, with solid grip to the slate- and black pepper—tinged black fruit flavors, finishing with narrow intensity. An unusual style that needs time for the edges to soften. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2016 through 2024. 500 cases made.
Harvey Steiman | Aug 2014 | wine Spectator
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94
2009 Chaleur Estate
Perfect balance is evident in this tightly wound, refined and smooth-drinking Bordeaux-style blend. Made using two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, this is fragrant, stylish and polished, with dark fruit flavors that are dotted with notes of spring herb and black olive.
PAUL GREGUTT | DEC 2012 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
93+
2009 Chaleur Estate
(68% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 7% cab franc and 2% petit verdot): Good bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, chocolate, cocoa powder and black pepper. Broad, sweet and very ripe, with a slightly high-toned character to the plum, dark berry and dark chocolate. A powerful yet plush wine whose huge tannins currently cut off its fruit on the back end. This will require patience.
STEPHEN TANZER | NOV 2012 | VINOUS.COM
93
2009 Chaleur Estate
Comprising 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot – sourced from Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards – the 2009 Chaleur Estate red is dominated by lusciously ripe morello cherry, with accents of peat, tobacco, licorice, allspice, and tactilely sizzling cinnamon. Plush though with underlying chew, it finishes with an invigoration and energy one scarcely anticipates from these grape varieties much less in such a warm vintage. Upchurch suggests that most of the tannin in a wine like this comes from the seeds and that the proclivity in Washington of seeds to truly ripen to nutty crunchiness (granted that precisely in 2009 this proved challenging) is what makes for wine with this sort of amazingly vibrant and stimulatingly tannic personality. And, he believes, incidentally, that punch-downs as opposed to pump-overs make for more advantageous extraction that preserves these virtues.
David Schildknecht | DEC 2012 | 204, The Wine Advocate
92
2009 Chaleur Estate
Dense, focused, chewy and explosive in flavor, offering cinnamon-accented red berry, blackberry and spice notes in profusion, coming together tightly on the dark finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2014 through 2020. 1,000 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | OCT 2012 | WINE SPECTATOR
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93+
2008 Chaleur Estate
(a Bordeaux blend based on 64% cabernet sauvignon; mostly from Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards): Good deep red. Red cherry, cocoa powder and sexy oak tones on the rather cool nose. Then supple, sweet and deep on the palate, with brisk acidity and firm tannins giving solid structural underpinning to the flavors of red and darker berries and spicy oak. Finishes broad, sweet and very long. Like most of the best 2008 reds, this should age very well.
Stephen Tanzer | NOV 2011 | Vinous.com
93
2008 Chaleur Estate
The 2008 Chaleur Estate Red is made up of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot predominantly from Red Mountain vineyards. A restrained nose of balsam wood, pencil lead, thyme, sage, black currant, and blackberry leads to a round, rich, succulent offering that has the balance and structure to achieve its 20th birthday in peak form. As good as the wine is, if the nose becomes more expressive with time in the bottle, my score will appear to be stingy.
Jay S Miller | AUG 2011 | 196, The Wine Advocate
92
2008 Chaleur Estate
Sharp and wound up tight, with a laser focus, this excellent young wine pinpoints raspberry, cherry and red plum fruit flavors, with good penetration and length. The fruit is backed with substantial oak and firm, fine tannins. The alcohol has come down a bit, though there is still a hint of burn and whiskey barrel in the finish.
Paul Gregutt | Feb 2012 | Wine Enthusiast
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96
2007 Chaleur Estate
The 2007 Chaleur Estate is sensational. Coming mostly from Ciel du Cheval and a classic blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, it was raised all in new French oak barrels. Full-bodied, concentrated and expansive, with a palate-saturating texture that keeps you coming back to the glass, it boasts fabulous notes of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed flowers and spice. This is a great vintage in Washington State and this 2007 has richness, depth and intensity, with no sensation of weight. It’s already hard to resist, but it will cruise in the cellar.
Jeb Dunnuck | Sep 2016 | Interim End of September 2016, The Wine Advocate
94
2007 Chaleur Estate
A blend of three-quarters cabernet and merlot, this wine’s lead attribute is freshness, a welcome respite to the intensity of its Red Mountain fruit—the region’s classic profile of blueberry and violet accented by cigar box and rosemary. The flavors are gripping and intense, but it rides cleanly across the palate, with a supple texture and astonishing length. Stylish now, it will reward cellaring for the next decade.
Aug 2011 | WINE & SPIRITS
93
2007 Chaleur Estate
(a Bordeaux blend based on 65% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot) Full ruby-red. Claret-like nose offers raspberry, tobacco and spices. Broad, sweet, pliant and thick, conveying full ripeness and compelling concentration to its red fruit and coffee flavors. For all its sweetness, this dense wine boasts solid underlying structure for a slow evolution in bottle.
Stephen Tanzer | Nov 2010 | Vinous.com
92
2007 Chaleur Estate
The tannins are a tad prickly, but this is ripe and generous, striking a compelling balance between dark fruit—mainly black cherry—and roasted red pepper notes, mingling on the focused finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2017. 950 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Jun 2011 | WINE SPECTATOR
91
2007 Chaleur Estate
This wine is often closed down upon release, and the 2007 is no exception. Plan on putting it into the cellar, or give it many hours of decanting. It slowly opens with tightly layered red and blue fruits, baking spices, and hints of herb and seed. The finish turns a little chalky.
PAUL GREGUTT | Aug 2010 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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94
2006 Chaleur Estate
Coming almost all from Red Mountain (there’s 6% from Boushey vineyard) and 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2006 Chaleur Estate offers a rich, concentrated and expansive style as well as lots of currants, toasted bread, licorice, graphite and a touch of chocolate. It lacks the elegance of the 2007, yet it’s more expansive and layered than the 2005.
Jeb Dunnuck | Sep 2016 | Interim End of September 2016, The Wine Advocate
94
2006 Chaleur Estate
(65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot, almost entirely from Red Mountain fruit; in fact, the 2007 bottling will use Red Mountain as its appellation) Good deep ruby-red. Black fruits perked up by violet on the nose. Highly concentrated, intense and deep, with dominant flavors of blackberry and spice. The cabernet franc component gives terrific lift to the middle palate, and a wild element of Provencal herbs adds further complexity. A pliant and sophisticated red wine with a plush texture and very suave, integrated tannins. The Chaleur Estate reds have been taken to a new level over the past few vintages.
Stephen Tanzer | Nov 2009 | Vinous.com
93
2006 Chaleur Estate
At first this Chaleur Estate seemed closed up tight and lightly herbal, but grudgingly opened with streaks of olive, chalk, coffee grounds. A second bottle was much brighter, layered with plum, cherry, chocolate, herb, and an impression of pepper. Subtle and sleek, this wine is built to age and needs to be decanted.
Paul Gregutt | NOV 2009 | Wine Enthusiast
93
2006 Chaleur Estate
Bright, focused and refined, this is defined by pinpoint focus, offering cherry, blackberry and toast flavors, with savory, slightly earthy overtones. Finishes with style and finesse. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2020. 658 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | APR 2010 | WINE SPECTATOR
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94
2005 Chaleur Estate
Chaleur Estate is DeLille’s finest red wine; this vintage is more refined, elegant and precise than ever before. The 2005 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot; it’s especially ripe and expressive. Lovely details of ripe cherry, plum and cassis fruit are dappled with intriguing grace notes of sweet grass, fresh herb and cracker. This wine has grace and length, and the finish combines earth, herb, rock and light hints of toast.
PAUL GREGUTT | Nov 2008 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
93
2005 Chaleur Estate
The only vintage to include Cabernet Sauvignon from the Grand Ciel vineyard on Red Mountain, the 2005 Chaleur Estate is a structured, firm, straight and age-worthy Bordeaux blend from this estate that offers lots of black fruits, lead pencil shavings, chocolate and toasted bread aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, with good richness and chewy tannin, it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity.
Jeb Dunnuck | Sep 2016 | Interim End of September 2016, The Wine Advocate
93
2005 Chaleur Estate
Smooth, round and harmonious, offering an elegant mouthful of creamy, spice-accented black cherry, black currant and plum flavors, nicely fashioned to breeze through a veil of fine tannins on the beautifully focused finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2015. 1,100 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Dec 2008 | WINE SPECTATOR
91+
2005 Chaleur Estate
Bright ruby-red. Cassis, boysenberry, tar and brown spices on the nose. Sweet and sexy on entry, then powerful and a bit youthfully aggressive in the middle, with a bit of alcohol (actually 14.9%) currently muting the black fruit flavors. This solidly structured wine finishes with excellent tannic grip but is currently a bit clenched. I’d give it five years of cellaring, at which time I suspect it will merit a higher score.
STEPHEN TANZER | NOV 2008 | VINOUS.COM
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93
2004 Chaleur Estate
A classic wine in every regard, with notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, scorched earth and licorice, the 2004 Chaleur Estate is fresh and focused on the palate, with integrated acidity, medium to full-bodied richness, and a clean, straight texture that carries fine tannin. It’s still youthful, but it’s far from unapproachable, and it should continue drinking nicely for another decade.
JEB DUNNUCK | SEP 2016 | INTERIM END OF SEPTEMBER 2016, THE WINE ADVOCATE
93
2004 Chaleur Estate
This is a similar blend to DeLille’s Harrison Hill bottling, but these grapes are largely from Red Mountain. Chaleur Estate is a very site-specific wine, and it has a strong component of mineral, granite or pencil lead. Dense, well-articulated flavors of very tart, precise red fruits, blue fruits, black fruits almost overwhelms; this is a wine to savor and one that requires a lot of airtime. The only cautionary note is the high alcohol (15.2%), which may shorten its lifespan.
PAUL GREGUTT | mar 2007 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
92+
2004 Chaleur Estate
(65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cab franc and 2% petit verdot) Good saturated red-ruby color. Captivating aromas of boysenberry, redcurrant, and cedary, vanillin oak. Deep, sweet and concentrated, with an almost dried fruit character to the cassis and dark chocolate flavors. This dense, sexy wine is suave but very young, and will require at least a few years of cellaring to resolve its oak and firm tannins.
STEPHEN TANZER | NOV 2007 | VINOUS.COM
91
2004 Chaleur Estate
An aristocratic red that’s firm in texture, with strong peppery overtones to the dark berry and smoke flavors. There is more than a hint of roasted red pepper on the finish, but the overall effect is complex and rich. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2008 through 2014. 1,050 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | May 2007 | WINE SPECTATOR
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96
2003 Chaleur Estate
Another gem in the lineup is the 2003 Chaleur Estate. Coming 100% from Red Mountain (there’s no Boushey Merlot in this vintage as Chris felt it didn’t fare well in the hot vintage), it offers blockbuster levels of cassis, plums, truffles, leafy herbs and lead pencil shavings, with a downright umami style that keeps you coming back to the glass. Full-bodied, massive, concentrated, yet still light on its feet and seamless, drink this powerhouse effort anytime over the coming decade or more.
JEB DUNNUCK | SEP 2016 | INTERIM END OF SEPTEMBER 2016, THE WINE ADVOCATE
92
2003 Chaleur Estate
Powerful, youthful and still a bit raw, the newest release of DeLille’s signature red blend shows a range of fruit from cherry and blackberry to dark notes of raisin and balsamic. It’s still melding together its aggressive barrel toast, showing good structure and balance for long-term aging. Despite its almost 15% alcohol, it is balanced and even.
PAUL GREGUTT | AUG 2006 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
91+
2003 Chaleur Estate
(a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot) Red-ruby color. Highly aromatic, claret-like nose offers cassis, redcurrant, maple sugar, herbs and a leafy nuance. Ripe, powerful and intensely flavored; this really expands in the mouth, gaining in sweetness and dimension with aeration. Finishes with broad, lush tannins and excellent length. Not at all a late-picked style of wine, and built to age.
STEPHEN TANZER | NOV 2006 | VINOUS.COM
90
2003 Chaleur Estate
Rich, with plush tannins around a lively core of currant and dusky herb flavors, persisting through the solidly built finish, even while it retains a real elegance. Needs cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2008 through 2013. 1,048 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | MAY 2006 | WINE SPECTATOR
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96
2002 Chaleur Estate
The most complete, balanced and impressive wine in the lineup was the 2002 Chaleur Estate. Mostly from Red Mountain (14% from Boushey Vineyard in Yakima Valley) and a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, it offers terrific notes of Asian spices, graphite, smoked black fruits and earth as well as full-bodied richness, gorgeous mid-palate depth and fine, polished tannin that keep everything focused and lively. Hats off to the team at Delille for this beauty, and while it’s drinking at point today, it has another 15-20 years of longevity.
JEB DUNNUCK | SEP 2016 | INTERIM END OF SEPTEMBER 2016, THE WINE ADVOCATE
92
2002 Chaleur Estate
Firm, generous and tightly packed with ripe currant, blueberry and gentle spice flavors, lingering against chewy tannins on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2007 through 2015. 1,250 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Aug 2005 | WINE SPECTATOR
91
2002 Chaleur Estate
(14.8% alcohol; a blend of 55% merlot, 20% each cabernet sauvignon and franc, and 5% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Currant, rose petal, licorice and nutty oak on the nose. Plump and generous; full and ripe. Comes across as rather soft but with no shortage of underlying spine. Sweet red fruit and floral flavors are lifted by a note of fresh blackberry. Finishes with fine-grained tannins. (A second bottle of this wine showed a firmer structure and slightly cooler fruit character-more of a Left Bank style-but was of equal quality, finishing with big, broad, dusty tannins and subtle lingering sweetness.)
STEPHEN TANZER | NOV 2005 | VINOUS.COM
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96
2001 Chaleur Estate
Reminding me of the 2004 with its classic, focused and elegant style, the 2001 Chaleur Estate (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot) comes mostly from Red Mountain, specifically Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun vineyards. Hitting 14.8% natural alcohol, it has fabulous depth and density as well as lots of sweet dark fruits, cassis, flowers and lead pencil aromatics. Full-bodied, impeccably balanced and layered, it still has a young, fresh feel and I suspect is just now entering its prime drink window.
JEB DUNNUCK | SEP 2016 | INTERIM END OF SEPTEMBER 2016, THE WINE ADVOCATE
92
2001 Chaleur Estate
One of Washington’s best wines in vintage after vintage, the 2001 Chaleur Estate blends four classic Bordeaux grapes in a complex, layered, spicy red wine. Disarmingly soft and approachable, yet layered with mixed red fruits and lovely hints of leaf and herb.
PAUL GREGUTT | Sep 2004 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
91
2001 Chaleur Estate
Crisp and chewy, a lithe red with firm tannins around a tightly wound core of black cherry and floral flavors, which persist impressively on the focused finish. Needs cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2006. 1,150 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Sep 2004 | WINE SPECTATOR
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92
2000 Chaleur Estate
Sporting a fresh, pure nose reminiscent of roasted eggplants immersed in blackberries, black cherries and fresh herbs, the 2000 Chaleur Estate red reveals a personality armed with gorgeous depth and power. More intense than the Harrison Hill, yet less complex, it slathers the palate with earthy blackberries, cassis, and brambleberries. Projected maturity: now-2015.
Pierre Rovani | AUG 2004 | 154, The Wine Advocate
91
2000 Chaleur Estate
Ripe, round and generous with its smoky blackberry, cherry currant and black pepper flavors that expand and persist on the fleshy finish. A beautifully balanced wine that has a great future in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2005 through 2012. 1,050 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | SEP 2003 | WINE SPECTATOR
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95
1999 Chaleur Estate
The oldest wine in the retrospective was the 1999 Chaleur Estate, and this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc (aged in 100% new oak) is still vibrant and youthful, with terrific notes of black currants, smoked earth, Asian spice and cedar. Gorgeous on the palate as well, with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate and a great finish, this killer Bordeaux blend is right in the middle of its drink window, but it will continue evolving nicely for another 15+ years.
JEB DUNNUCK | SEP 2016 | INTERIM END OF SEPTEMBER 2016, THE WINE ADVOCATE
93
1999 Chaleur Estate
Supple, polished and seductive, playing out its pretty currant, cherry and exotic spice flavors on a velvety frame. Achieves a pinpoint balance, echoing the flavors harmoniously on the long, long finish. Drink now through 2010. 1,350 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Jul 2002 | WINE SPECTATOR
91
1999 Chaleur Estate
This is DeLille’s ultra-premium Bordeaux blend, a dense, complex, luxurious red wine composed of fruit from Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval and Boushey—three of the best vineyards in Washington. A lush bouquet of fresh fruits, spices, chocolate, coffee, leather and sweet vanilla gets things rolling. The wine is generous to a fault, with layers of expressive, tangy fruit, smoky oak and soft tannins. Not quite as ripe as the ’98, it is perfectly balanced and cellar-worthy for at least a decade. Cellar Selection.
PAUL GREGUTT | Jun 2002 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
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91
1998 Chaleur Estate
The medium to dark ruby-colored 1998 Chaleur Estate offers sultry spice, violet, and jammy cherry aromas. This velvety-textured, medium-bodied red reveals loads of muscle to its underlying, candied cherry, raspberry, and blueberry character. An elegant, well-detailed offering, it combines gorgeous layers of sweet, bright, fresh fruit with a delightfully harmonious personality as well as an extensive, pure finish. Enjoy it over the next ten years.
PIERRE ROVANI | Oct 2001 | 137, The Wine Advocate
91
1998 Chaleur Estate
Though it has been on the market for some weeks, this wine is wrapped up tight as a drum. Firm fruit suggests black cherry, blackberry and cassis, and it shows underlying streaks of dark, mineral-saturated Red Mountain terroir. The weight and dimension of this wine, borne out in past vintages, is not immediately apparent in this latest release—give it time to breathe and it begins to open gradually, revealing layers of smoke, tar, spice and coffee underneath the tight fruit.
PAUL GREGUTT | JUN 2001 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
90
1998 Chaleur Estate
Juicy, lively style packs plum, cherry and strawberry flavors into a bright core that lingers on the extended finish, framed by subtle tannins. Drink now through 2005. 1,150 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | WEB ONLY 2002 | WINE SPECTATOR
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93
1997 Chaleur Estate
The winery set out some years back to make a Washington equivalent of classified Bordeaux, and no one has come closer. Winemaker Chris Upchurch captures the lead pencil/cigarbox nuances of Pauillac, and uses the deep, dark, slightly bitter black-cherry fruit to full advantage. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this may well be the best wine made in Washington.
PAUL GREGUTT | JUN 2000 | WINE ENTHUSIAST
90
1997 Chaleur Estate
The 1997 Chaleur Estate is reminiscent of a wine from the Margaux commune in Bordeaux. Dark ruby-colored, and boasting a nose of violets, cassis, and blackberries, this is a medium to full-bodied, powerfully flavored and structured wine. Roses, violets, and assorted other flowers are intermingled with highly expressive cassis, black cherry, and blackberry flavors. Built for the long haul, this is a firmly structured, chewy-textured wine. Projected maturity: 2004-2012.
PIERRE ROVANI | Feb 2001 | 133, The Wine Advocate
90
1997 Chaleur Estate
Medium ruby. Ripe, inviting aromas of plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, brown spices and shoe polish. Lush, sweet and seamless; suave and voluminous. Very harmonious and rich, with a texture of right-bank Bordeaux from a warm year. Ripe acids and extremely fine tannins give this beautifully balanced but immediately appealing wine sound structure for aging.
STEPHEN TANZER | Sep 2000 | VINOUS.COM
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92
1995 Chaleur Estate
Smooth and inviting, spreading rich plum, currant, spice and coffee flavors over a deftly balanced framework of fine tannins. Impressive for its suppleness and elegance, folding in its flavors elegantly. Contains 66 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Merlot and 9 percent Cabernet Franc. Best from 1999 through 2005. 1,210 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | Aug 1998 | WINE SPECTATOR
90
1995 Chaleur Estate
The dark ruby-colored 1995 Chaleur Estate (red) offers embracing aromatics of roses, cassis, cedar, and blackberries. This medium-to-full-bodied, complex, refined, well-delineated wine was hitting on all cylinders when I tasted it. Layers of black fruits, blueberries, and cherries immersed in sweet oak spices can be found in this structured yet highly expressive wine. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2006.
PIERRE ROVANI | Oct 1998 | 119, The Wine Advocate
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91
1993 CHALEUR ESTATE
Ripe, rich, supple and glowing with plum, black cherry, blueberry and gently spicy flavors that last and last on the generous finish. Contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 1998. 950 cases made.
HARVEY STEIMAN | AUG 1996 | WINE SPECTATOR
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90
1992 CHALEUR ESTATE
This is one of the most impressive Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc blends to emerge from Washington state. I met this new estate’s winemaker, Chris Upchurch, several years ago and was impressed by the man’s enthusiasm and commitment to producing high quality wine. That seriousness is evident in DeLille’s 1992 debut release, a 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc blend. It exhibits a saturated dark plum/ruby color, an intriguing, spicy, multidimensional bouquet of high quality smoky oak, vanilla, lead pencil, and a wonderful array of red and black fruits. The wine is rich, intense, and medium to full-bodied, but it retains an admirable sense of elegance and balance. There is well-integrated tannin, adequate acidity that is not excessively tart, obvious fleshiness, beautiful balance, and a long, lingering finish. This wine could easily be mistaken for a top class Graves or St.-Emilion. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Congratulations to DeLille Cellars for this impressive as well as elegant and flavorful wine.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. | Apr 1995 | 98, The Wine Advocate