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SHOP / 1997 Chaleur Estate

Varietal

64% Cabernet Sauvignon
27% Merlot
9% Cabernet Franc

Appellation

Red Mountain AVA

Aging

Age 5-20 Years

Vineyard

47% Ciel du Cheval
27% Klipsun
4% Harrison Hill
9% Staley
13% Ahtanum Ridge

1997 Chaleur Estate

The nose suggests great concentration and depth with black fruits, soft plumb and a hint of blueberries. With this vintage is an added layer of spice, along with a nice integration of oak and a wonderful plush inner mouth feel. Classic balance and length.

$167

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90 Points

— Pierre Rovani, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

90 Points

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.

February 2001

Additional Scores:

93

Wine Enthusiast

90

Vinous

Pairing Suggestion

Seared Rack of Lamb with black garlic gastrique, herb gnocchi, beurre noisette and lamb jus — Other pairing recommendations include hearty mushroom-based dishes, earthy risottos and rich pastas.

Behind the Wine

1997 Chaleur Estate

DeLille Cellars’ inaugural wine, Chaleur Estate marks the foundation on which the winery has built its craft of blending Washington State fruit in the traditional style. This wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend of Bordeaux varietals, with a focus on Red Mountain vineyards. The result is a wine of depth, complexity, focus and elegance that personifies the French word for warmth, chaleur.

Vineyards

Ciel du Cheval is one of Washington’s most prestigious vineyards. The 1982 planting of Cabernet Sauvignon at this famed Red Mountain site is the backbone of Chaleur Estate.

Vineyards

Winemaking

Cold soaked 24-36 hours, fermented 14-16 days on skin, aged 20 months in 100% French oak (100% new) and aged in bottle 8 months prior to release.