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All Wines from DeLille Cellars
Inventory updated: Tue, Feb 03, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Our vintages of DeLille Cellars wine currently include: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Flickinger Fine Wines' inventory of DeLille Cellars wine is listed below. We have an excellent and vast assortment of fine wines to choose from. If you do not see what you are looking for, give us a call and we can suggest another DeLille Cellars vintage or even another producer that we are sure you will enjoy.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| DeLille Cellars |
2002 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend  |
$65 |
2 |
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| WA 89 (8/2004): The 2002 Chaleur Estate Dixieme Anniversaire white, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, offers a honeyed nose of minerals, melon, and butter. Lush, satin-textured, and soft, this medium-bodied effort coats the palate with rich layers of creamed melons and almonds. Flavorful, armed with wonderful mouth-feel, it also possesses a long, suave finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
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2005 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
3 |
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WA 93 (9/2016): 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.
VM 91+ (11/2008): 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. |
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2006 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
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VM 94 (11/2009): (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.
WA 92 (10/2009): The 2006 Chaleur Estate is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA. Purple-colored, it displays an enticing bouquet of toast, spice box, black currant and blackberry. Already complex on the palate, it has superb density and Outstanding integration of oak, tannin, and acidity. Give this lengthy effort another 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2021. |
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2007 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
4 |
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WA 93 (8/2010): The 2007 Chaleur Estate is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot sourced from 4 vineyards with 95% of the fruit coming from the Red Mountain AVA. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up an enticing aromatic array of cigar box, Asian spices, mineral, herbs, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied, on the palate it is dense, savory, and structured with enough ripe tannin to evolve for another 3-4 years. It has a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2027.
VM 93 (12/2010): 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. |
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2010 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
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WA 94 (6/2013): 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+.
VM 93 (11/2011): (an 80/20 blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon; the winery cut back on the percentage of semillon in 2010): Bright full yellow. Knockout nose combines musky curry powder and cumin notes with pineapple oil, ginger and chlorophyll; today it's the sauvignon blanc that dominates. Then supple and intense in the mouth, with excellent acidity serving to frame and intensity the peach, citrus, chlorophyll and basil flavors. Finishes very long, serious and suave, leaving an impression of fairly low alcohol. A beauty. |
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2011 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
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WA 94 (6/2014): 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.
VM 92+ (12/2014): 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. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2012 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
6 |
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WA 95+ (6/2015): 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.
VM 94+ (11/2015): (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. |
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2013 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
27 |
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WA 93 (6/2016): 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.
VM 93 (11/2016): 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. |
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2014 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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WA 95 (6/2017): 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.
VM 94 (10/2017): 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. (Drink between 2019-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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JD 95 (4/2018): 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. Owner/Winemaker Chris Upchurch compared the 2015s from Washington State to the 2009s from Bordeaux, and given the sweltering heat in 2015, I understand the comparison. However, the 2015s come across as more focused and classic in style, in part, I suspect to the vines shutting down throughout the summer and I think the true phenolics actually lag the 2012s, 2014s, and 2016s. These wines are concentrated, have notable purity, and building tannin. They’re going to benefit from short-term cellaring. As usual, I tasted the barrel samples during my visit at the estate and the bottled wines at my office in Colorado. (Drink between 2018-2030).
VM 93 (11/2018): 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) (Drink between 2019-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92+ (6/2018): 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. |
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2016 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
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| VM 94+ (12/2019): 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. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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VM 94 (12/2020): 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) (Drink between 2021-2030). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (10/2020): 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.
JD 92 (4/2020): 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. |
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2018 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
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VM 95 (3/2022): 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. (Drink between 2021-2036). Own Bargreen.
JD 94+ (5/2021): 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.
WA 94 (10/2021): A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Chaleur Estate begins with a classy and expressive nose offering enticing aromas of dusty black cherry, dark plum, a lush and velvety expression of blackberry reduction, cinnamon-spiced black raspberries and elegant oak tones in the glass. Full-bodied, the round and juicy nature of the wine parades with finesse and precision, displaying flavors of dusty dark red fruit with elements of baked earth, savory herbs and ripe, concentrated fruit tones. The mid-palate sways with finesse and elegance, offering energetic acidity with fine-grained silky tannins, ending with a long, perfectly ripe finish. Persistent flavors of graphite and pencil shavings linger with elements of black cherry skin and bitter dark chocolate over the elongated finish as it uncoils on the aftertaste, marking another fabulous vintage for Chaleur Estate. |
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2011 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$25 |
1 |
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WA 93 (6/2014): A smoking effort, the 2011 D2 checks in as a blend of 56% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. It offers gorgeous black cherry, black currants, tobacco leaf and hints of chocolate to go with a full-bodied, rich, textured and seamless profile on the palate. Showing both richness and elegance, with building fine tannin, it’s a rock-star Bordeaux blend that will have 10 to 15 years of longevity.
VM 92 (12/2014): Bright red-ruby. Showy aromas of cassis, Cuban cigar tobacco, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate are accented by a suggestion of fennel. Suave, juicy and energetic, already displaying lovely inner-mouth floral character to its dark fruit, menthol and graphite flavors. Shows the sappiness and lift of the vintage but today this is also one of the most expressive of these superb 2011s. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2012 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$26 |
2 |
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VM 93+ (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Kirsch, blackcurrant, blueberry, liquid smoke, graphite, milk chocolate and a hint of menthol on the nose. Superrich, creamy-sweet and utterly seamless offering lovely sweetness of fruit and impeccable balancing acidity. Finishes with building tannins and terrific persistence. Superb. (Drink between 2019-2029). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2015): Functioning as a second wine, the 2012 D2 Proprietary Red Wine checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. It's one hell of a second wine and offers up awesome notes of blackcurrants, wood smoke, graphite, chocolate, truffle and damp earth to go with a full-bodied, ripe, layered and still focused and lively profile on the palate. This is a serious wine on all accounts and it has beautifully integrated acidity, moderate, sweet tannin and a great finish. It's easy to appreciate now, but will also have 20 years of overall longevity. |
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2013 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
2 |
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VM 93 (11/2016): Ruby-red. Complex, perfumed aroma of blueberry, licorice and cocoa powder. Plush, sweet and deep; this round, seamless, fruit-driven blend boasts terrific immediate appeal. There's a hint of intriguing salinity here but not quite the umami richness of the outstanding 2012 example, even if this wine possesses riper fruit. Velvety and delicious right now and long and lush on the aftertaste. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2016): Billed as the second wine of the estate, the D2 Proprietary Red Wine is nevertheless a fabulous, outstanding Bordeaux blend that's brought up all in new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by solid notes of black currants, lead pencil, damp herbs and licorice, and while it might not have the complexity of the top cuvees, it has beautiful purity. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, with ripe, polished tannin and solid mid-palate depth, drink this beautiful 2013 anytime over the coming two decades. |
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2014 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
1 |
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WA 92 (6/2017): The ruby-colored 2014 D2 Proprietary Red Wine is the entry-level Bordeaux blend of the estate and is named after the D2 highway in Bordeaux. It's a soft, voluptuous, medium-bodied effort that offers loads of currants, black cherries, strawberries and leafy herb aromas and flavors. It's already hard to resist, yet there's quality tannin hiding under its fruit, and I suspect it will surprise you with its longevity.
VM 92 (10/2017): Bright ruby. Pungent fruit-driven aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and blackberry. Plush and seamless on the palate, with blackberry and blueberry flavors complicated by a savory dried-berry note that I associate with Red Willow vineyard. Wonderfully pliant from the start, this beauty finishes very long and suave, with utterly smooth tannins. Great fruit here! Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
D2 Proprietary Blend Slightly Depressed Cork |
$40 |
1 |
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WA 92 (6/2017): The ruby-colored 2014 D2 Proprietary Red Wine is the entry-level Bordeaux blend of the estate and is named after the D2 highway in Bordeaux. It's a soft, voluptuous, medium-bodied effort that offers loads of currants, black cherries, strawberries and leafy herb aromas and flavors. It's already hard to resist, yet there's quality tannin hiding under its fruit, and I suspect it will surprise you with its longevity.
VM 92 (10/2017): Bright ruby. Pungent fruit-driven aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and blackberry. Plush and seamless on the palate, with blackberry and blueberry flavors complicated by a savory dried-berry note that I associate with Red Willow vineyard. Wonderfully pliant from the start, this beauty finishes very long and suave, with utterly smooth tannins. Great fruit here! Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
2 |
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VM 92 (11/2018): Bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Aromas of cassis and licorice hint at a dried-berry character. Impressively concentrated for such a large blend, offering a fine-grained texture and noteworthy inner-mouth floral lift. Boasts plush, sweet dark fruit and spice flavors, with a repeating element of very ripe berries. Suggests a wider range of fruit ripeness than most of the other DeLille reds but very successful for such a disparate blend. The long finish features substantial ripe, broad tannins. Stephen Tanzer.
JD 91 (4/2018): The largest production Bordeaux blend from this estate is their D2 release, which is named after the famed highway leading up to the Médoc from the city of Bordeaux. The 2015 D2 is 58% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It offers a Pomerol-like bouquet of black cherries, leafy herbs, graphite, and lead pencil, and is medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant. Readers wanting a taste of the style – and quality – from Delille should absolutely check this wine out. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.
WA 90 (6/2018): Exhibiting aromas of loamy soil, crushed currants and creamy new oak, the 2015 D2 Proprietary Red Wine is medium-bodied, chewy and rustic, with a good core of juicy fruit but a firm, somewhat drying finish that seems to be marked by tannins derived from its time in 55% new oak but which could also simply reflect the vintage. It's a blend of 58% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. |
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2016 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
3 |
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VM 93 (12/2019): Bright red-ruby. Plum and redcurrant aromas complemented by cool Cabernet Sauvignon notes of tobacco leaf and herbs. Sappy, broad and palate-saturating , delivering lovely concentration and silky depth to its flavors of red berries, spices, sage and herbs. This very well-balanced blend conveys an impression of more even fruit ripeness--and virtually no overripeness--than the 2015 version. Lovely sweetness of fruit with good shape and structure from fine tannins. D2 began as a second wine, but winemaker Gorski now refers to it as a wine on purpose. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92+ (12/2019): The 2016 D2 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 59% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The nose displays a lush and dense core with dusty currant, plum and black raspberry sprinkled with a rocky minerality. The wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate, with deep concentration and focused balance, delivering complexity through the mid-palate and ending with a long, concentrated finish.
JD 92 (4/2019): The 2016 D2 is mostly Merlot but includes 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. It has a Bordeaux-like bouquet of tobacco, earth, lead pencil, and graphite, with plenty of ripe dark fruit. Rounded, medium to full-bodied, and textured, it’s a terrific second wine to drink over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2017 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
2 |
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WA 92 (10/2020): A blend of 66% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 D2 Proprietary Red Wine opens to a nose of dusty plum, silky cherry skin and black raspberry before showing hints of baking spice, dusty flower petals and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is expressive and balanced across the mid-palate with lifting tannins and energetic acidity to make it food-friendly. Lingering flavors of cedar and sage persist in the mouth, as the wine stretches its legs on the winding finish, highlighting the red berry frame. D2 has always been a crowdpleaser, and the 2017 bottling continues that winning streak. The wine spent 20 months in French oak barrels (68% new) and then rested in bottle for eight months.
VM 91 (12/2020): Bright, moderately saturated red-ruby. Savory scents of blackberry, blueberry, cocoa powder, spices and tobacco leaf. Suave, savory and fine-grained, showing a restrained sweetness and a light touch to its raspberry, pomegranate, spice and cocoa flavors. Hints of cedar and herbs add complexity. Doesn't offer quite the breadth or palate-saturating density of the 2016 but graceful, pliant, seamless, savory and persistent, with sweet, dusty tannins in the background. (Drink between 2021-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 91 (4/2020): The largest production cuvée from Delille, the D2 is named after the D2 highway that runs from the town of Bordeaux up into the Médoc. It’s always a quality wine, and the 2017 D2 sports a deep purple/ruby color as well as Bordeaux-like notes of cedary herbs, lead pencil, tobacco, damp earth, and blackberries. Medium-bodied, balanced, and silky, it’s unquestionably an outstanding wine that has a decade (or more) of prime drinking ahead of it. |
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2018 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
1 |
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| VM 93 (3/2022): Another great offering by DeLille Director of Winemaking Jason Gorski, this new edition (2018) of D2 blends 67% Merlot with 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and small parts Malbec and Petit Verdot. Right away this Right Bank inspired wine exudes class with its herbal and green bell pepper undertones that mingle alongside loganberry, and chocolate covered espresso bean flavors. The finesse and weight of the wine bring you back to the glass for more. Finishing long, this is already a nicely evolved wine that is great to savor now and over the next ten years to come. Owen Bargreen. |
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2019 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
2 |
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JD 94 (7/2022): The 2019 D2 (60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is terrific, with a ruby/purple hue as well as gorgeous cassis and black cherry fruits, notes of spicy, dried herbs, and lead pencil, medium to full body, and a pure, balanced, undeniably delicious profile. It's going to keep for 15-20 years and is one heck of a wine.
WA 93+ (5/2023): Composed of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2019 D2 Proprietary Red Wine comes with an energetic core. Tasted in tandem with the 2018, the 2019 will perform better with additional bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, flavors of black cherry and bright red fruits sway with an oak-tinged mid-palate followed by a delicate mineral tension with hints of graphite. Finishing long, the wine continues to linger with persistence and intention, but give it time. Your patience will be rewarded!
VM 93 (3/2023): Masses of crushed wild blueberries, tart cherry, sage nuances and a hint of spiced citrus rinds waft up from the 2019 D2. This is elegant and silky in feel, with peppery-tinged red and blue fruits underscored by saline-mineral tones that add a lovely tactile feel toward the close. It tapers off structured and concentrated, and yet it maintains a fantastically fresh persona. Frankly, it's amazing to think that the D2 is the "entry-level" Bordeaux blend from DeLille Cellars. The 2019 is a Merlot-heavy blend rounded out with 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
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2020 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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WA 93 (5/2023): The 2020 D2 Proprietary Red Wine was made from 61% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The nose is as brilliant as always, with focused, dark red fruits, hints of black cherry skin and oak essence that sways out of the glass. Full-bodied and mineral tensioned, the palate offers fine-grained tannins with succulent healthy fruit flavors before ending with a fresh, food-friendly finish. At these prices, buy the entire case. About 108,000 bottles were filled after the wine rested in 68% new French oak for 20 months. Bravo!
JD 93 (6/2023): The more Merlot-dominated 2020 D2 offers a vivid purple/ruby hue as well as beautiful notes of ripe black cherries, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, and spring flowers. I love its purity, and it has terrific mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. The blend is 61% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 60% new oak.
VM 92 (1/2024): The darkly alluring 2020 D2 blends crushed wild berries with peppery florals and hints of licorice. This is vividly fruit-focused. Stimulating acidity offsets the D2’s round textures, playing notes of sour orange against depths of ripe red and blue fruit. It tapers off long and energetic, with a web of fine-grained tannins that hugs the palate with youthful tension as a pleasantly tart sensation lingers. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
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2011 |
Doyenne Aix Syrah |
$25 |
5 |
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VM 93+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, licorice and pepper. Concentrated, dense and dry, with gripping dark berry flavors complicated by sexy garrigue and gunflint and lifted by a floral topnote. At once ripe and classically dry, conveying the strong acidity of the vintage. Very juicy and long on the aftertaste. This will require at least a few years in bottle to become more pliant but it boasts outstanding potential. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2014): A Provencal styled blend of 71% Syrah and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes all from Red Mountain, the 2011 Doyenne Aix has beautiful richness and texture in the vintage, with ample black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, toast and hints of meatiness all flowing to a clean, beautifully balanced and overall elegant wine that will have 10 - 12 years of overall longevity. Seemingly outstanding in every vintage, it represents a superb value and is well worth checking out. |
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2013 |
Doyenne Aix Syrah |
$25 |
1 |
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VM 93 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. High-toned aromas of blackberry, clove oil, white pepper, licorice and game. Wonderfully silky and sweet but with terrific acidity giving grip and shape to the middle palate. Very concentrated, juicy wine with a wild suggestion of garrigue and a faintly animal character. Reminded me of something in the Mas de Daumas-Gassac/La Grange des Pères neighborhood. This very successful blend boasts superb fruit and finishes wonderfully sweet and ripely tannic. I'd love to slip this wine into a blind tasting with some cult reds from the Languedoc. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2016): Tasting like a rich, ripe red from Provence, the 2013 Doyenne Aix (60/40 Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up a fabulous bouquet of ripe black currants, melted licorice, roasted herbs and pepper in a full-bodied, concentrated, even unctuous, style on the palate. Despite all of the fruit and texture, this beauty has solid underlying structure and will drink well for another 10-15 years. |
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2006 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
1 |
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WA 94 (10/2009): The 2006 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard also contains 2% Viognier. It offers greater aromatic complexity with its wild berries and herbs, leading to a packed, dense, opulent wine with a sauvage character that should please any Rhone enthusiast. This impeccably balanced, pleasure-bent Syrah will have a drinking window extending from 2011 to 2021.
VM 91+ (11/2009): Deep, bright ruby-red. Pungent aroma of pomegranate lifted by flowers. Expressive, pure flavors of cassis, blackberry and violet tighten up quickly in the glass, turning increasingly clenched with air. Intensely flavored and sweet but dominated by its structure today and in need of patience. |
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2011 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
18 |
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| WA 94 (6/2014): Slightly richer and more concentrated than the Signature Syrah, yet still playing in the elegant, seamless style of the vintage, the 2011 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard is 100% Syrah that was aged in 35% new French oak. Possessing beautiful black raspberry, currants, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality and hints of graphite, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, fabulous purity of fruit and a seamless, silky texture that carries through the finish. Give it a year or two and drink bottles through 2024. |
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2012 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
13 |
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WA 93 (6/2015): A similar purple/ruby, semi-opaque color to the Signature Syrah, the 2012 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard has more minerality (no doubt due to coming from Red Mountain) to go with lots of blackberry, graphite, pepper and crushed violet notes. Like the Signature Syrah, it shows the vintage nicely with lots of concentration, integrated acidity and a big finish, where the wine's structure becomes more apparent. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 10-15 years of overall longevity.
VM 92+ (11/2015): Good dark red. Lovely perfume of cherry, cranberry, white pepper, spices and dusty flowers. Lovely fine-grained Syrah with a savory restraint to its highly aromatic red berry and spice flavors complicated by a hint of game. Made from a slow-to-ripen Entav clone. Finishing quite firm, even a bit youthfully sullen, this already complex Syrah needs time to evolve. (Drink between 2019-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend |
$30 |
6 |
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| VM 91 (11/2013): Bright red. Aromas of blackberry and licorice are complicated by spicy oak and white pepper. Juicy, spicy and penetrating, with lovely intensity to the youthfully tight red berry flavors. Finishes sweet and long, with firm but harmonious tannins. I'd give this at least a year in the cellar before pulling the cork. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend Slightly Depressed Cork |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 93 (10/2017): Bright, dark medium ruby. Captivating lavender and underbrush complexity to the aroma of blackberry. A ripe, sweet bomb of raspberry and blackberry fruit, lifted by a peppery quality and complicated by a note of olive tapenade. Plush, broad, utterly seamless blend with terrific concentration and persistence. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2017): Previously labeled as the Doyenne Aix, the name has been changed to simply Doyenne in 2014. The 2014 Doyenne is the classic blend of equal parts Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that's brought up in barrel. It has a great nose of toasted spice, black raspberries, currants, lavender and cedar. This gives way to a rounded, sexy, voluptuous and hedonistic red that has moderate acidity, medium to full-bodied richness and a great texture. Drink this sexy red anytime over the coming 7-8 years. |
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2017 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice and lavender on the reticent nose. Concentrated, dark and a bit youthfully brooding but already showing a rich, pliant texture and terrific breadth. Cassis, licorice and mineral flavors are accented by dusty herbs, with a note of bitter chocolate emerging with air; nicely avoids the peppery pungency of the 2016 version. This very backward wine possesses the stuffing and energy to evolve gracefully but even today there are no rough edges. Blacker in its fruit character and a bit tighter-grained than the Métier, with as much acidity as smooth tannins to support aging. Serious juice! (Drink between 2021-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91+ (10/2020): Bold and juicy, the 2017 Doyenne is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of blackberry, currants and cassis leap out of the glass with precision, a soft rockiness and chocolate essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is poised and delightful, delivering pleasure with a rich and ripe berry-laced expression. The wine remains chocolaty and plummy on the winding finish. The wine aged for 20 months in French oak, over 50% first fill.
JD 91 (4/2020): A 60/40 split of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Doyenne is modeled after the reds from Provence (think Trevallon) and offers outstanding notes of ripe black fruits, Asian spices, leafy herbs, and a hint of herbes de Provence. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and is already hard to resist. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming decade. |
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2018 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 93 (3/2022): The 2018 Doyenne is already beautifully evolved at the three-year-mark. A Provençale-style blend of 61% Syrah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, it delivers plenty of viscosity and weight on the palate. Fresh and beautifully textured, with black cherry, black olive tapenade, boysenberry and loamy soil notes, this is an outstanding effort that will continue to impress over the next decade. (Drink between 2021-2031). Owen Bargreen.
JD 93 (5/2021): A blend of 61% Syrah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon (this is the estate’s take on a Provence Red), the 2018 Doyenne has beautiful blackberry and blueberry fruits as well as medium to full-bodied richness, a plush, layered, expansive texture, ripe tannins, and classy spicy, peppery aromas and flavors. It's another beauty from this team to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.
WA 92 (10/2021): Displaying a deep magenta core with a purple edge, the 2018 Doyenne is a blend of 61% Syrah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated nose offers expressive aromas of blackberry preserves with elements of dusty violets, roasted herbs and hints of cinnamon and spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is balanced with a firm tannic edge and ends with a dusty and complex finish. The blend was bottle-aged for six months after resting for 20 months in French oak, 44% new. |
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2020 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 92 (8/2023): A darkly alluring blend of sweet herbs, crushed blackberries and lifting pine aromas makes the 2020 Doyenne a total pleasure on the nose. This soothes with its soft textures and ripe wild berry fruits as cocoa combines with a sour citrus tinge toward the close. It finishes gently grippy and long, leaving a staining of primary concentration and sweet tannins to linger through the pleasantly chewy finale. The Doyenne is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon refined for twenty months in 40% new French oak. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido.
WA 91 (5/2023): Mostly Syrah with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Doyenne starts with a dark core of firm fruit on the nose with dark berry aromas and smoky and spicy essences. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is fresh and softly savory with dusty dark cherries and fine-grained tannins over the lingering finish with persistent flavors of spiced plum and savory herbs. Over 20,000 bottles were filled after the wine rested for 20 months in about 50% new French oak. It delivers fantastically for the price. Bravo.
JD 86 (6/2023): A 60/40 split of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from a site in the Columbia Valley, the 2020 Doyenne offers a solid perfume of red and black fruits, smoked herbs, and graphite. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, spicy red with good mid-palate depth yet some clear smoky, ashy notes on the finish. It offers pleasure, but I wouldn't push the aging curve. |
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2010 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
3 |
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WA 93 (6/2013): Also outstanding, with a deep, black fruit-driven core , the 2010 Doyenne Signature Syrah is 97.5% Syrah and 2.5% Viognier that saw roughly 30% new French oak. Smokey, meaty and peppery, with plenty of underbrush, violets, chocolate and Asian spice emerging with air, this full-bodied Syrah has superb purity of fruit, a lush, seamless texture and plenty of focus and length on the finish. Drink it over the coming decade.
VM 91 (11/2013): Aromas of cranberry, blackberry, pepper and fennel, along with a floral element. Creamy red fruit flavors are nicely framed by harmonious acidity. Very sexy fruit-driven syrah with sweet tannins and excellent length. Winemaker Chris Upchurch noted that following the investment in DeLille Cellars by Bacchus Capital, production here is expected to rise in a series of increments from the current 12,000 cases-per-year level. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2011 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
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WA 93 (6/2014): A smoking Syrah, the 2011 Doyenne Signature Syrah (which was co-fermented with 2% Viognier) possesses a pure, incredibly elegant style to go with notions of creme de cassis, blackberry, licorice, liquid flowers and hints of wild herbs. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, balanced and integrated, it can be enjoyed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 91+ (12/2014): Bright, deep ruby. Tight, high-pitched aromas of blueberry, blackberry, licorice and black pepper. Extremely youthful and tightly wound, with brisk acidity keeping the intense black fruit, violet and pepper flavors under wraps today. Finishes with excellent length and lift but this will require patience. This wine did not include any Boushey Syrah due to the cool year. |
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2012 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
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WA 93 (6/2015): The ruby/purple colored 2012 Doyenne Syrah Signature is a classic Washington State Syrah that does everything right. Giving up vivid notes of salted blackberries, fresh plum, violets and spice, this balanced 2012 has full-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity and a clean, nicely focused finish. More fresh and lively than the Grand Ciel release, it still has rock-solid concentration and fantastic purity of fruit. Give it another year in bottle and drink it through 2027.
VM 92 (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Very ripe aromas of cherry, mocha and wild herbs are lifted by high notes of clove and spearmint oil. Saline and classically dry, offering a lovely refined texture to its flavors of raspberry, fresh herbs and dark chocolate. Finishes savory and persistent, with serious building tannins. This very suave Syrah has the balance to age. (Drink between 2017-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 92 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of spiced plum and wild herbs showed a livelier note of raspberry with air. Suave and seamless on the palate, offering sexy, slightly high-toned flavors of raspberry and more exotic red apricot (from the Viognier?), plus a note of pastry dough. Boasts compelling sweetness and fine-grained texture. Finishes ripely tannic, smooth and long. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2016): The 2013 Doyenne Syrah Signature is a beauty. Ripe, layered and nicely concentrated, with lots of black cherry and black berry fruits, smoke, peppery herbs and olives, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, polished tannin and a clean, lengthy, elegant finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's beautiful today, but should be at its best from 2018-2025. |
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2011 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
5 |
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WA 94 (6/2014): Even better, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags is 100% Cabernet that comes from Red Mountain and is a mix from the Upchurch, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun vineyards. Aged 20 to 22 months in French oak, it offers a full-bodied, elegant, yet classically styled profile to go with notions of cassis, black raspberry, lead pencil shavings and dried spices that show on both the nose and palate. Concentrated and rich, with excellent mid-palate density and building tannin, it nevertheless stays seamless, elegant and perfectly balanced. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and drink it over the following 10 to 15 years.
VM 93+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Cassis and blueberry aromas are complemented by wild herbs and toasty oak. Deeper than the D2, showing outstanding density and focus to its dark fruit, olive tapenade, Asian spice and iron flavors. Wonderfully pliant and vibrant wine, with extremely suave tannins spreading out to saturate the palate on the very long finish. A classically structured, outstanding wine in the making, this will be better for five years in the cellar. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2012 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
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WA 96 (6/2015): The limited production 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags is an off-the-hook effort. Decadent, layered, unctuous and rich, with classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, lead pencil, crushed rock and graphite, this awesome 2012 hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, a stacked, rich, concentrated mid-palate, and loads of sweet tannin that are almost completely hidden under all of the wine's fruit and texture. Given the wealth of material here, it's already hard to resist, but don't let that fool you, this has the balance, concentration and structure to keep for 2-3 decades. It's a sensational Cabernet from this team that should not be missed.
VM 93 (11/2015): (14% alcohol; from Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch vineyards): Dark ruby-red. Knockout nose combines spicy red and black fruits, tobacco, minerals and black pepper, plus a complicating medicinal aspect. Delivers Outstanding concentration and a fine-grained texture, showing lovely floral lift and a classic juicy Red Mountain Cabernet character. The tannins communicate an impression of finesse but this wine is nonetheless still tight on the back end. Combines the "plum brandy of Klipsun, the Latour-like focus of Grand Ciel, blueberries and minerals from Ciel, and the floral character of Upchurch," according to Chris Upchurch. |
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2012 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2015): The limited production 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags is an off-the-hook effort. Decadent, layered, unctuous and rich, with classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, lead pencil, crushed rock and graphite, this awesome 2012 hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, a stacked, rich, concentrated mid-palate, and loads of sweet tannin that are almost completely hidden under all of the wine's fruit and texture. Given the wealth of material here, it's already hard to resist, but don't let that fool you, this has the balance, concentration and structure to keep for 2-3 decades. It's a sensational Cabernet from this team that should not be missed.
VM 93 (11/2015): (14% alcohol; from Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch vineyards): Dark ruby-red. Knockout nose combines spicy red and black fruits, tobacco, minerals and black pepper, plus a complicating medicinal aspect. Delivers Outstanding concentration and a fine-grained texture, showing lovely floral lift and a classic juicy Red Mountain Cabernet character. The tannins communicate an impression of finesse but this wine is nonetheless still tight on the back end. Combines the "plum brandy of Klipsun, the Latour-like focus of Grand Ciel, blueberries and minerals from Ciel, and the floral character of Upchurch," according to Chris Upchurch. |
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2013 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
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WA 95 (6/2016): Up there with the incredible 2012, yet in a more focused, tight, backwards style, the inky colored 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards (Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch) and exhibits classic Red Mountain characteristics of black fruit, smoked herbs, licorice, graphite and dusty minerality on the nose. Possessing serious intensity, full-bodied richness, ripe, yet present tannin and a fabulous finish, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years, and it will drink beautifully through 2038.
VM 93 (11/2016): Deep ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice and crushed rock, plus a very ripe suggestion of plum brandy that winemaker Chris Upchurch says is from the Klipsun fruit. Wonderfully dense, fine-grained and broad, combining Latour-like saline, gravel and graphite notes with the vibrant blueberry and mineral aspect of Ciel du Cheval. Seriously structured, sharply focused, very pure wine with lovely floral lift and elegance. Finishes with sweet tannins and outstanding breadth. (Drink between 2018-2025). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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WA 94 (6/2017): Much less tannic from bottle than from barrel, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four different vineyards on Red Mountain: Grand Ciel (42%), Upchurch (31%), Ciel du Cheval (19%) and Klipsun (8%). It shows the vintage's more forward, charming style with its full-bodied, rich, textured style, yet it firms up considerably on the finish. Possessing lots of graphite, toasted spice, currants and black raspberry aromatics, I love its purity and balance. It's best today with a decant, but it should be in its finest from 2020-2034.
VM 92+ (10/2017): Bright ruby-red. Precise aromas of cassis, violet, licorice and wild herbs convey a hint of positive greenness. Plush and sweet, if not with quite the definition of the Shaw Cabernet. In a more savory, less fruity style with lovely spicy, herbal lift and subtle sweetness, but this very youthful, backward wine needs time. Less hedonistic than the Shaw, especially as its tannins build with aeration. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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WA 94 (6/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags reveals an attractive bouquet of cassis, black plums, dark chocolate, warm spices and loamy soil that has already nicely integrated its 100% new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a chassis of rich, fine-grained but firm tannins, good concentration and a long, youthfully firm finish. This is very impressive and an appreciable step up above the D2 this year. It will demand several years of bottle age and enjoy two decades of longevity, perhaps more.
JD 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from the top four vineyards in any vintage and in 2015 is 30% Grand Ciel, 30% Upchurch, 25% Ciel du Cheval, and the rest from Klipsun. It’s a rich, powerful wine that offers boatloads of ripe black cherries, crushed violets, incense, and Asian spice aromatics. Rich, full-bodied, supple, and impressively concentrated, it shows the ripe yet focused/elegant style of the vintage.
VM 93+ (11/2018): Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of dark raspberry, mocha and black pepper. Boasts lovely clarity and thickness of fruit, with serious intensity to its flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate and cocoa powder. Wonderfully suave, classy wine with fine-grained tannins and outstanding rising length. And pliant from the start; this wine can be drunk even now without pain. "Like a Chave version of Cabernet Sauvignon from four different soils on four hills in close proximity," noted executive winemaker Chris Upchurch. Incidentally, DeLille Cellars did not make a Shaw Cabernet in 2015; this juice went into the D2 bottling. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2016 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
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JD 97 (4/2019): One of the gems in the lineup is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags. This thrilling, sensational Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful perfume of red currants, spice box, new leather, and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and thrillingly textured, it offers balance, remarkable purity, and a finish that won’t quit. While Red Mountain is known for producing powerful, structured wines, this is all about finesse and elegance. It will drink nicely for two decades. (Drink between 2019-2039).
WA 94 (12/2019): Named for the four famous vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags immediately shows power and elegance on the nose, with a fresh core of fruit and minerality, showcasing rich and velvety oak tones. The wine is rich and complex on the medium to full-bodied palate that's overflowing and expressive, with good depth and breadth, balanced tannins and the lifting support of oak spices and energetic acidity. It lingers long, with a tannic edge that will settle down with time, making it ready for food now.
VM 92+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice, black pepper and minerals on the nose. Densely packed, fine-grained and nicely concentrated but a bit youthfully unforthcoming today, showing limited sweetness and early appeal. I find this a bit peppery, if not lean, in the early going, with a distinct coolness in the style of some '16s. Finishes savory and persistent, with a smooth dusting of tannins and some peppery herbs in a varietal way. Lay this one down. (made from three clones) (Drink between 2022-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards on Red Mountain and is brought up mostly in new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by rock star notes of crème de cassis, toasted spices, lead pencil, crushed, and savory herbs. It’s beautiful on the palate as well and offers medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance, and a great finish. It will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity.
WA 93+ (10/2020): Made from a blend of the four vineyards on Red Mountain—the Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Klipsun and Upchurch vineyards—the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags has an even balance of mineral tension, freshness of fruit and elegant baking spices on the nose. Trying the other bottles of the range side by side, I can see the identity of the Four Flags, as each vineyard imparts flavors into the wine, like completing a puzzle to discover and display an image. Medium to full-bodied, the wine expresses blackberry skin, dusty red cherry, savory dried spices and elements of baked earth, with firm tannins across the mid-palate and ending with expressions of dried currants and crushed rocks.
VM 92+ (12/2020): Bright ruby-red. Brooding, very dark aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, crushed rock, herbs and violet. Penetrating, inky flavors of black and blue fruits, licorice pastille, herbs and minerals. This is very tightly wound and not yet showing its texture or sweetness. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and lovely building violety length. Very backward right now, even a bit tough and herbal, this Cabernet Sauvignon will need time in the cellar to express itself. My sample showed much more finesse of texture with extended aeration. (aged for 20 months in 100% new oak) (Drink between 2024-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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JD 96+ (5/2021): All Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (78% new French oak), the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags showed brilliantly, offering a Pauillac-like nose of smoky red and blue fruits, lead pencil, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and concentrated, it has lots of velvety tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It ranks with the top Cabernets from the appellation and is a stunning wine. Drink bottles over the coming 20-25 years.
WA 94+ (10/2021): Displaying a magenta core, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags blossoms in the glass with elements of cinnamon-spiced cherries, crème de cassis and plum reduction with a floral and dusty essence. Medium to full-bodied, this 100% Cabernet is ripe with a firm tannic edge while offering flavors of blackberry jus and a steady mineral-laced sensation across the mid-palate. The wine glides to an elongated finish with lasting flavors of graphite, black plum and dusty flowers.
VM 94 (3/2022): Already quite nicely evolved, the 2018 Four Flags evokes black tea, exotic spice and chocolate aromas alongside a great wall of dark fruits. Full-bodied and intense, with sagebrush and scorched earth undertones, this is drinking beautifully right now and will continue to cellar well for another 15 years - or more! (Drink between 2021-2035). Owen Bargreen. |
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2019 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Honoring four vineyard sites on Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Klipsun and Upchurch vineyards make up the blend of Four Flags. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags displays a deep ruby core and opens up with juicy dark red fruit essences before offering a firm, dusty nose with oak and elements of vanilla and nutmeg. Full-bodied, the palate displays a rich and round mouthfeel before delivering a firm tannic edge that will take another year to come around before seductive oak essences sway across the mid-palate. It’s a delightful wine that needs additional time in the bottle, so be patient.
JD 94 (7/2022): A blend of four vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags sports a ruby/plum color to go with terrific notes of red and black currants, spicy oak, dried flowers, and hints of tobacco. It has some classic Red Mountain minerality and chocolate on the palate, is medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish.
VM 90 (3/2023): The 2019 Four Flags impresses with a mix of wild blueberry, cooling smoke and rubbed sage. It soothes with its silky textures and ripe red and blue fruits, as a pleasant inner sweetness resonates, nicely complemented by zesty acidity. This finishes remarkably fresh with subtly grippy tannins that linger. The 2019 mixes vivid fruit, energy and power in a way that I find wildly appealing. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido. |
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2005 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
1 |
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| |
VM 93+ (11/2008): (represents a "cherry picking" of the vines planted here in 2000) Good ruby-red. Brambly aromas of currant, spices, herbs and licorice. Sweet, lush and chewy, with terrific ripeness and intensity of fruits and spices. Impressively broad and structured wine that needs aging. This one is wearing its 14.9% alcohol more gracefully today than the Chaleur Estate bottling but I wouldn't bet against the Chaleur wine in the long run.
WA 94 (10/2009): The 2005 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal from the Grand Ciel Vineyard owned by DeLille in the Red Mountain AVA. A saturated purple color, it has a superb aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, cinnamon, allspice, sage, violets, blackberry, and black currant. Full-bodied, youthful, and voluptuous on the palate, it has layers of succulent black fruit, chocolate and espresso notes, lots of spice, and an exceptionally long, 60-second finish. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2025. |
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2006 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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| |
VM 94 (11/2009): (100% cabernet sauvignon) Good deep ruby-red. Blackberry, blueberry, minerals and violet on the precise, vibrant nose. Sharply delineated and refined, with terrific energy and cut to the flavors of dark berries, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate. There's a lightly leafy cabernet nuance and a note of graphite that remind me of a top Medoc wine. A real essence of Washington cabernet, finishing with broad, silky tannins and superb persistence.
WA 94 (8/2010): The 2006 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon (100% varietal from the DeLille owned Grand Ciel Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA) sports a captivating bouquet of wood smoke, herbs, balsamic, espresso, blackberry, and a hint of chocolate. Elegant on the palate with loads of savory fruit and spice elements, it personifies the phrase of the iron fist in the velvet glove. It will evolve for several more years and easily see its 20th birthday. |
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2010 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (11/2013): Dark berries and minerals on the vibrant, sweet nose. Intensely flavored but light on its feet, conveying an impression of serious power without any excess weight. Dark berry fruit flavors are complicated by subtle soil tones and strong graphite minerality. This wonderfully concentrated, seamless wine finishes with noble tannins and Outstanding palate-staining persistence. A good bit of this material is declassified into DeLille's D2 and Four Flags bottlings. Wonderfully suave Washington cabernet for extended cellaring. |
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2011 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
5 |
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WA 95 (6/2014): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel (100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 to 22 months) is still backward and tight, with slightly reticent aromas of graphite, black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and singed cedar flowing to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated and structured feel on the palate. Showing mostly structure and tannin at present, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar, and assuming it fleshes out, will have a long life ahead of it. I’d like to see more mid-palate depth at this point, but it’s still a superb wine that will have 10-15 years of longevity even on the most conservative side.
VM 94+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Knockout nose melds black cherry, cassis, licorice and minerals, with a floral topnote contributing energy. Penetrating, compellingly sappy cassis and huckleberry flavors are complemented by sexy oak. Explosive on the palate, this wonderfully classy cabernet finishes with Outstanding grip and length. Still an infant but should be a Washington classic in six or seven years. |
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2012 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
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| VM 93+ (11/2015): Bright medium red. Deep aromas of cassis, black plum, minerals and licorice complicated by noble herbs and lifted by a violet topnote. Intensely flavored and perfumed but quite tight in the early going, conveying an exhilarating impression of weightlessness. The dark fruit flavors are complemented by notes of bitter chocolate and licorice. Already smooth but youthfully clenched. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins. Less generous and sweet than the Chaleur Estate Red Wine but this is still a baby. (Drink between 2020-2033). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
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WA 95+ (6/2016): A spitting image of a top Pauillac, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Grand Ciel comes from one of the top terroirs in the state, the Grand Ciel Vineyard on Red Mountain. Aged all in new French oak, its offers sensational notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, campfire, graphite and crushed flowers. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly elegant, yet with serious density and power, it's surprisingly approachable given its polished tannin and overall balance, yet I've no doubt it will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.
VM 94 (11/2016): Ruby-red. Very pure, vibrant scents of blueberry, cassis and cedary oak. Densely packed, pliant and savory, conveying a restrained sweetness to the flavors of currant and spices. An outstanding example of this bottling, with a touch of pyrazine lift contributing to its impression of lift. Plush and very long, finishing with harmonious noble tannins. This wine conveys an impression of through and even ripening and has the balance and structure for graceful aging. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tenzer. |
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2014 |
Grand Ciel Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
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VM 94 (10/2017): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and menthol verge on porty. Fatter and sweeter than the Signature Syrah; less penetratingly fruity but this chocolatey-rich wine benefits from a captivating note of cardamom and harmonious acidity. The exotic spice character carries through the sweet, very long finish, which features serious but plush tannins. This clone (Entave clone 383) ripens a bit later but retains acidity well, notes Upchurch. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91+ (6/2017): Sporting a deeper, more purple and opaque color than the Signature Syrah, the 2014 Syrah Grand Ciel is a single vineyard cuvee that's 100% Red Mountain Syrah, all from a single clone, aged in barrel. It offers impressive notes of black fruits, espresso roast, cured meats and tapenade. These flow to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated Syrah that's nicely balanced, has good mid-palate density, plenty of texture and a good, yet surprisingly short finish for this cuvee. It's enjoyable today, yet I'd hold bottles for a year or two and hope it develops more length. |
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2015 |
Grand Ciel Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
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VM 94 (11/2018): Bright medium ruby. An aroma of black raspberry eau de vie is complicated by hints of prosciutto and tea leaf. Juicy, sharply delineated flavors of dark berries, cardamom and pie spices are lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully fine-grained and suave, delivering uncommon detail and cut for a 2015 red. "How Syrah should be," notes executive winemaker Chris Upchurch, who added that "DeLille's middle name is tannin management." Finishes with outstanding rising length and a captivating light touch. This wine should evolve gracefully in bottle over the next decade or more. (14.6% alcohol) (Drink between 2020-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 93+ (4/2018): The flagship Syrah is the 2015 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard and it’s all from a single vineyard on Red Mountain, was completely destemmed, and aged in 30% new French oak. Similarly colored to the Signature Syrah, it offers more black cherry, currants, scorched earth, smoke, and mineral characteristics to go with a big, rich, concentrated style on the palate. Beautifully balanced, with both tannin and acidity, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will shine over the following decade. |
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2019 |
Grand Ciel Syrah |
$50 |
1 |
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WA 96 (5/2023): Big, bold and broad-shouldered, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel offers a firm, fresh nose with a rocky and dusty blackberry essence and subtle notes of graphite and baking spices. Full-bodied, firm and focused, the palate reveals fine-grained tannins and a long, spicy and textural finish. It’s still tight and just a baby, so give it another two to three years in the cellar before opening. Your patience will be rewarded. Enjoy with food.
JD 95 (6/2023): All Syrah from a great vineyard on Red Mountain, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard reveals a deep ruby/plum hue (it's not opaque) to go with a great perfume of mulberries, meaty blue fruits, pepper herbs, leather, and hints of iron. Rich, medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has fine tannins, a silky, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for 15-20 years as well. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 94 (3/2023): Cracked ashen stones, savory herbs and smoky black currants form the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel's beguiling bouquet. This is silky and round on the palate, with depths of dark fruit, savory spice and herbal tones that swirl throughout. It leaves the palate caked in salty minerals and a web of fine-grained tannins while tapering off with pretty inner violet florals and a dark fruit concentration. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
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2010 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
11 |
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WA 95 (6/2013): More complex, deep and mineral-driven, the awesome 2010 Harrison Hill (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) comes from the tiny Snipes Mountain AVA and the second oldest planting of vines in the state. Loaded with notions of smoked herbs, crushed stone, tobacco, bay leaf, black currant and hints of saddle leather, it flows seamlessly onto the palate with full-bodied richness, brilliant extract and serious persistence on the finish. Despite have knockout richness, it’s also silky, weightless and elegant, with juicy acidity lifting up the finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more. Drink 2016-2028+.
VM 92 (11/2013): (65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Cassis, blackberry and a nutty nuance on the nose. Fat, lush and sweet; showing a much more open-knit texture today than the Lot 1 cabernet. Seamless and long, with tannins thoroughly buffered by dark fruit. |
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2010 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
3 |
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WA 95 (6/2013): More complex, deep and mineral-driven, the awesome 2010 Harrison Hill (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) comes from the tiny Snipes Mountain AVA and the second oldest planting of vines in the state. Loaded with notions of smoked herbs, crushed stone, tobacco, bay leaf, black currant and hints of saddle leather, it flows seamlessly onto the palate with full-bodied richness, brilliant extract and serious persistence on the finish. Despite have knockout richness, it’s also silky, weightless and elegant, with juicy acidity lifting up the finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more. Drink 2016-2028+.
VM 92 (11/2013): (65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Cassis, blackberry and a nutty nuance on the nose. Fat, lush and sweet; showing a much more open-knit texture today than the Lot 1 cabernet. Seamless and long, with tannins thoroughly buffered by dark fruit. |
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2011 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
16 |
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VM 94 (12/2014): Good dark red. Aromas of cassis, white pepper and peat complicated by sexy wood spices. Wonderfully silky and sweet, offering a suave fine-grained texture to the inviting flavors of pomegranate, minerals and leather. A highly concentrated and elegant wine, with nothing out of place. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend is from 50-year-old vines, according to Chris Upchurch. Finishes sweet and very long. Superb, and balanced from day one. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 94 (6/2014): Showing awesome complexity (which is one of the hallmarks of this cuvee), the 2011 Harrison Hill is made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Loaded with notions of cherry blossoms, black currants, mineral, tobacco leaf and chocolate, this full-bodied, seamless and supple effort has a classy, elegant profile that should allow it to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. It’s a beautiful 2011 that should not be missed. |
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2011 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
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VM 94 (12/2014): Good dark red. Aromas of cassis, white pepper and peat complicated by sexy wood spices. Wonderfully silky and sweet, offering a suave fine-grained texture to the inviting flavors of pomegranate, minerals and leather. A highly concentrated and elegant wine, with nothing out of place. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend is from 50-year-old vines, according to Chris Upchurch. Finishes sweet and very long. Superb, and balanced from day one. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 94 (6/2014): Showing awesome complexity (which is one of the hallmarks of this cuvee), the 2011 Harrison Hill is made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Loaded with notions of cherry blossoms, black currants, mineral, tobacco leaf and chocolate, this full-bodied, seamless and supple effort has a classy, elegant profile that should allow it to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. It’s a beautiful 2011 that should not be missed. |
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2012 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
3 |
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VM 92+ (11/2015): (these vines range in age from 22 to 53 years): Dark red-ruby. More medicinal and claret-like on the nose than the Four Flags, offering distinctly cooler aromas of redcurrant, licorice, herbs, tobacco leaf, dusty cocoa powder and clove. Saline, tactile and suave in the mouth; the "greenest" of these Cabernet-based bottlings but in a classy Medoc way. Still very tightly wound owing to strong acidity and firm, youthfully drying tannins. This subtle, long, "old-style" wine should age for a long time.
WA 94-96 (6/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Harrison Hill continues to show the quality of this unique site. Beautiful all around, with fabulous purity of fruit and a layered, seamless character, it exhibits notions of creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf and edgy minerality. Full-bodied and slightly more fruit-driven than previous vintages (prior vintages showed a slightly more feral/wild character at this point), it will drink reasonably well on release, yet have 15 years of prime drinking. |
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2013 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
2 |
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WA 94 (6/2016): he elegant 2013 Harrison Hill is reminiscent of lighter weight Chateau Margaux with its beautiful aromatics of tobacco leaf, sandalwood, lead pencil and black cherries. These give way to a medium to full-bodied, supple, seamlessly textured 2013 that has sweet tannin, no hard edges, and beautiful purity and focus in the finish. It's already approachable, but will evolve gracefully on its balance and overall harmony.
VM 92+ (11/2016): Medium-deep red. Sexy, claret-like herbal complexity to the perfumed aromas of redcurrant, strawberry, lavender, rose petal, tobacco and licorice. Fat, suave and subtly sweet, with wonderfully fine-grained blue and red fruit and savory mineral flavors complicated by truffle and hints of dried flowers and light pyrazines. In a rather Old World style, and long on personality. Finishes ripe and persistent, with dusty, firm-edged tannins. Very distinctive and very smooth. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
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WA 97 (6/2018): Incorporating 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, as well as the fruit of Washington State's oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines (planted in 1962), the 2015 Harrison Hill is superb, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis, cherries, black tea, sweet cocoa nib and subtle pencil shavings. On the palate, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with superb depth and dimension, its tannins abundant but beautifully pixelated and its finish tangy and lingering. I'd expect this absolutely superb Bordeaux blend to see out its 30th birthday in style, but plan on cellaring it for 4 or 5 years at the bare minimum to allow it to realize all its considerable potential. Effortlessly balanced, this was my favorite of the DeLille Cellars wines reviewed here.
JD 96 (4/2018): I always find a subtle Château Margaux-like quality in this cuvée and the 2015 Harrison Hill is no exception. Beautiful notes of sandalwood, sweet cassis, blueberries, forest floor, and graphite are just some of the nuances here. Hitting the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, it has sweet, elegant tannins, beautiful balance, and a terrific sweetness of fruit that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs a healthy decant if drinking anytime soon and will be even better with 3-4 years of bottle age, at which point it will drink nicely for two decades or more. The blend of the 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged all in New French barrels.
VM 94 (11/2018): Dark red with ruby tones. Aromas and flavors of black raspberry and licorice are lifted by a floral topnote. At once juicy and deep, conveying an uncanny creaminess of texture (the oldest vines here were planted in 1962 but even the youngest are now 24 years of age). Seriously complex wine with captivating sweetness of fruit complicated by a savory herbal quality and sexy oaky lift (75% new). Executive winemaker Chris Upchurch noted that this fruit smells like cannabis when it's crushed. Delivers a remarkable combination of texture, sweetness and weightlessness and finishes extremely long, with suave tannins and no edges. A great vintage for this bottling. (14% alcohol) (Drink between 2020-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Le Colosse Red Blend |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 93 (3/2022): 2018 Le Colosse is an outstanding Yakima Valley bottling. Sagebrush, black cherry compote and shades of Earl Grey tea all dominate the nose. Fresh and beautifully textured, the wine delivers a great core of dark fruits with coffee ground and menthol undertones. (Drink between 2021-2034). Own Bargreen.
WA 92+ (10/2021): New to the range this year, the 2018 Le Colosse is mostly Merlot with 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Elegant, floral and red-fruited, the wine offers seductive tones of black raspberry, plum and baking spices with dusty violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is balanced, offering nuances of graphite, pencil shavings and black cherry skin before fine-grained tannins meet the mid-palate. The wine continues to evolve in the mouth, revealing its subtle complexities over the elongated finish. Fermented in stainless steel, the wine spent 20 months in all French oak—78% new—and then was left to rest for an additional eight months in bottle prior to release. It’s gorgeous. |
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2019 |
Le Colosse Red Blend |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 94+ (3/2023): The 2019 Le Colosse smolders up from the glass with a darkly inward mix of crushed rocks and lavender complementing wild blueberries and hints of plum. This is seductively silky and refined without a hard edge in sight, with cooling acidity that motivates its sweet red and black fruits. The 2019 tapers off classically structured and long, echoing notes of black raspberry and licorice under a sweet air of minty herbs. Fans of Washington Merlot will not want to miss this. (Drink between 2025-2033). Eric Guido.
WA 93+ (5/2023): The 2019 Le Colosse is compressed in the bottle and marked with a firm and juicy nose that opens to a bright, red-fruited frame with notions of dusty black tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is balanced with a fine mineral tension that drives the expression with notions of graphite and dusty red flowers. The wine continues to somersault in the mouth, revealing additional complexities and layers with time and before ending with a tight, food-friendly finish. It's absolutely delightful. |
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2020 |
Le Colosse Red Blend |
$30 |
1 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Made from 100% Merlot, the 2020 Le Colosse opens to classic aromas of plum with fresh cherry essences, touches of florals and hints of oak spices. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and focused with fantastic layers that shine with elegance and refinement, the palate presents a lively and lifting structure with fine-grained tannins before offering up flavors of juicy blackberry and graphite over the long-lingering and spicy finish. Bravo! It’s a fantastic wine that spent 20 months in French oak, 70% first use. Give it a try.
JD 92 (6/2023): All Merlot from the Yakima Valley, the 2020 Merlot Le Colosse reveals a medium ruby/plum hue to go with solid aromatics of spiced black cherries, scorched earth, graphite, and spicy wood. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and elegant, it has clean, fine-grained tannins, notable purity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine.
VM 91 (1/2024): The 2020 Le Colosse is understated in the glass, blending dusty florals with dried blueberries. It’s round in texture, balanced by tart wild berry fruits and brisk acidity that adds tension. The 2020 tapers off long and lightly spiced, with nuanced tannins. (Drink between 2025-2029). Eric Guido. |
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2020 |
Le Dessein Proprietary Blend |
$30 |
1 |
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WA 91 (5/2023): New to the database, the 2020 Le Dessein is composed of 44% Grenache, 36% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah. The nose is fresh, lean and mineral with dark red fruit notions that sway with a spicy essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced on the palate, with a focused and spicy core of wild strawberries and spiced cherries before offering a delightful mineral tension across the mid-palate. The wine ends with a delightfully lingering, clean and focused finish. No new oak was used.
JD 90 (6/2023): Based on 44% Mourvèdre, 36% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, the 2020 Le Dessein has a meaty, medium-bodied, juicy style as well as both red and black fruits, some peppery, herbal, meaty nuances, high acidity, and a good finish. Well-made, this firmer, focused, slightly angular 2020 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep through 2030. (Drink between 2025-2030).
VM 90 (3/2023): The 2020 Le Dessein wafts up with a lovely blend of wild flowers, peppery herbs and crushed raspberries. It splashes across the palate with succulent ripe red fruits and sweet spice, guided by juicy acidity. This leaves a staining of wild berries under an air of inner rose while tapering off pleasantly refreshing. (Drink between 2023-2026). Eric Guido. |
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2010 |
Lot 2 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
6 |
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2013 |
Merlot |
$39 |
1 |
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WA 90 (6/2016): The 2013 Merlot is a fleshy, forward and charming effort that gives up lots of black cherry, currants, graphite and smoked herb characteristics in a medium-bodied, charming, balanced and very drinkable style. I'm not sure it will make old bones, but it should continue to impress through at least 2023.
VM 90 (11/2016): Bright medium red. Aromas of raspberry, mint and spicy oak. A very juicy style, with lovely inner-mouth energy and spice character to its intense red fruit flavors. Not especially complex but not at all an overripe style of Washington Merlot. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Merlot |
$39 |
1 |
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VM 93 (10/2017): Bright ruby-red. Inviting scents of cassis, pomegranate, spices, menthol and licorice. Densely packed, plush and ripe but showing less easy sweetness than the Doyenne Red Wine that preceded it in my tasting. A tangy cranberry flavor is accented by a hint of slatey minerality, which combines with the wine's firm but suave tannins to give it a serious spine for aging. Here's a Merlot that needs no Cabernet for structure. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (6/2017): Slightly less structured and concentrated from bottle than from barrel, the 2014 Merlot is a supple, elegant effort that has beautiful cassis, lead pencil, chocolate and hints of herbs in its full-bodied, charming, textured personality. It's impeccably balanced and has light, sweet tannin that show on the finish. While it's already drinking beautifully, I suspect it will continue to shine for a decade given its overall balance and purity. |
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2015 |
Merlot |
$39 |
1 |
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| JD 90 (4/2018): The 2015 Merlot is outstanding, with a concentrated, rich style and classic notes of black cherries, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and tobacco. It’s deep, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful fruit, and a great finish. It’s certainly approachable today but will be even better with a year in bottle and keep for a decade. Owner/Winemaker Chris Upchurch compared the 2015s from Washington State to the 2009s from Bordeaux, and given the sweltering heat in 2015, I understand the comparison. However, the 2015s come across as more focused and classic in style, in part, I suspect to the vines shutting down throughout the summer and I think the true phenolics actually lag the 2012s, 2014s, and 2016s. These wines are concentrated, have notable purity, and building tannin. They’re going to benefit from short-term cellaring. As usual, I tasted the barrel samples during my visit at the estate and the bottled wines at my office in Colorado. (Drink between 2018-2028). |
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2012 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$25 |
1 |
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| |
VM 93 (12/2014): Bright ruby. High-toned aromas of blackberry, wildflowers and Moroccan spices. Juicy, fine-grained and light on its feet, conveying wonderfully perfumed flavors of blackberry, wild herbs and flowers, cumin and black olive. Really explosive fruit here, extended by lively acidity through a long, floral finish. This beautifully balanced wine combines Old World savoir faire with New World fruit intensity. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2015): The estate's Southern Rhone-style release, the 2012 Doyenne Metier Proprietary Red Blend is 39% Grenache, 39% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah and the rest Cinsault. Deep ruby and mostly opaque, it offers up classic black cherries, black raspberries, roasted herbs, pepper and hints of leather to go with a medium to full-bodied, ripe, layered and balanced feel on the palate. Possessing more than a passing resemblance to a quality Chateauneuf du Pape, this is a great Rhone blend from Washington. |
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2013 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$25 |
1 |
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| |
WA 92 (6/2016): I loved the 2013 Doyenne Metier Proprietary Red Blend, and this mix of 39% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache and the rest Cinsault offers ripe, textured, downright sexy notes of ripe black cherries, ground herbs, melted licorice and caramelized meats to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, unctuous style on the palate. Beautifully concentrated, textured and with solid underlying structure, it should continue to drink beautifully through 2025.
VM 91 (11/2015): Good dark red. Sexy, sappy aromas of raspberry syrup, licorice and wild herbs. A fat fruit bomb of raspberry, strawberry and boysenberry, complicated by clove and meaty nuances. A wonderfully plush, broad, dry blend with a slightly liqueur-like ripeness that lends itself to early consumption. Spreads out horizontal on the lingering, ripely tannic back end. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
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| |
VM 92 (11/2016): Moderately saturated medium red-ruby. Cherry and flowers on the nose, plus some suggestions of exotic fruits. Suave, creamy and complex. offering impressive palate presence to the flavors of purple fruits, violet, tree bark and pungent pepper. The small Cinsault component helped to lower this wine's alcohol level, noted winemaker Chris Upchurch, but it's still a lofty 15.3%. Finishes with very suave tannins, lovely balance and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2017): A final blend of 40% Mourvedre, 37% Grenache, 19% Syrah and the balance Cinsault, the 2014 Metier is beautiful, with a voluptuous, rich yet still graceful and lively style. Offering up lots of raspberry, spice, herbes de Provence and licorice aromatics, this medium to full-bodied beauty is impeccably balanced, has no hard edges and a great finish. I'd happily drink bottles over the coming 6-7 years, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it keep longer. |
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2015 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2017): Bright, dark red. Brambly red berries, crushed cherry, spices and hints of smoked meat and herbs on the nose. Plush, sappy and utterly seamless, conveying a creaminess of texture to the flavors of dried red berries, cherry and tree bark firmed by underlying minerality. Really terrific flavor intensity here without any heaviness or phenolic roughness. The pH is "3.8 at the most," according to winemaker Chris Upchurch, and the very long finish is lifted by a pungent note of pomegranate. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2016 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 92 (4/2019): The Southern Rhône blend is the 2016 Metier, which is 42% Grenache and 36% Mourvèdre, with the balance Cinsault. Violets, peppery spice, cedar, and sweet black raspberry fruits all emerge from the glass and it’s ripe, rounded, and medium to full-bodied on the palate. There’s some subtle background oak, but this is upfront and ready to go.
VM 92 (11/2018): Dark red with ruby highlights. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and tree bark, plus a spicy nuance. Combines compelling spicy intensity and serious thickness of texture, with its red berry and spice flavors showing virtually no greenness. Concentrated, broad, rich and long, finishing with substantial dusty tannins. Incidentally, the team did not make this wine with whole clusters. "We don't like stems, but we did include some in our 2016 Syrah," noted Gorski. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$15 |
1 |
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| |
VM 92 (12/2019): Healthy moderately saturated dark red. Raspberry, strawberry and red licorice aromas convey a slightly high-toned candied quality in a positive way. Silky, nicely concentrated, graceful blend with lovely sweetness and a light touch to its wild red berry, spice and floral flavors. Wonderfully lively, fine-grained but firm wine with noteworthy complexity, smooth ripe tannins and sneaky persistence. (This wine included the Grenache fruit that was used to make a separate varietal bottling in 2016.) Perhaps not quite the structure of the '16 version but I'm splitting hairs. Stephen Tanzer.
JD 90 (4/2020): Lots of darker red and black berry fruits as well as notes of peppery meat and spice emerge from the 2017 Metier. It’s medium-bodied and has silky tannins, outstanding balance, and an already upfront, charming, undeniably delicious style. A Rhone-like blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, this cuvée ages gracefully, and the 2017 will keep for at least a decade.
WA 89 (12/2019): The 2017 Metier is a blend of 39% Grenache, 39% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah and 3% Cinsault and opens to aromas of red cherry, dusty raspberry and spiced black plum on the nose, exposing a clean and open-knit core. It shows some tight minerality on the palate with red and black spices, and the dried earth tones win out and linger on the finish, moving toward a tannic grip. I have had better expressions of the Metier in years past and will take a closer look at this bottling next year. |
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2018 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$15 |
1 |
|
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VM 92 (12/2020): Good dark red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, strawberry, fennel, licorice and peppery herbs, along with a faint suggestion of cured meats. Smooth and suave but firm on entry, offering lovely density and energy to its red berry, spice and lavender flavors. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins and rising floral/herbal persistence. Still very youthful and built to expand with bottle aging, but smooth and flavorful right now. This struck me as a bit more brisk than the 2017. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (10/2020): With a classic ruby center, the 2018 Metier is a blend of 39% Grenache, 39% Mourvedre, 19% Syrah and 3% Cinsault. The wine is expressive and opens to a nose full of dusty red fruit and subtle black spices with hints of dusty cherry skin, licorice and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has a youthful and energetic appeal across the mid-palate before showing soft flavors of dried herbs and potpourri on the lingering finish. I see this being a crowd-pleaser to anyone who likes CDP. The wine fermented in stainless steel and aged for 16 months in neutral French oak. |
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2019 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$15 |
1 |
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| |
VM 93 (3/2022): The 2019 Métier is a gorgeous blend of 42% Grenache and Mourvèdre (36%) with smaller parts Syrah and Cinsault. The garrigue notes are gorgeous, and bright red cherry and cigar box tones mingle with black olive on the nose. The palate shows good freshness, a soft mouthfeel and a light dusting of salinity. Layers of ripe red and dark fruits parade with stony and earthy tones, sagebrush and creosote. This just fantastic Rhône-inspired wine for the price. (Drink between 2021-2029). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (5/2023): Composed of 42% Grenache, 36% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah and 2% Cinsault, the 2019 Metier is expensive and floral in the glass with a delightful cherry skin and petrichor note. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel offers a fine mineral tension that sways with flavors of potpourri, spiced red plums and raspberries before concluding with a food-friendly finish. Give it a try. |
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2017 |
Minuit Proprietary Blend |
$15 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2020): The 2017 Minuit (which was reviewed last year under the 2017 Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon label) is a pretty, elegant, medium to full-bodied red that has loads of white pepper, cedar, and violets as well as a core of ripe black (and some blue) fruits. Based on 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Quintessence and Red Willow Vineyards, aged in 60% new oak, it’s another flawlessly balanced wine from this estate that shows the vintage perfectly. Drink it any time over the coming 15 years or more.
VM 89 (12/2020): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry and cassis aromas are accented by crushed black pepper, violet, licorice pastille and mint. Surprisingly supple and easygoing on the palate, with somewhat inky black and blue fruit and licorice flavors showing enough sweetness to offer early enjoyment. Doesn't possess the dimension or nuance of the best reds here but its smooth, polite tannins and dark chocolate element give it immediate appeal. Just a tad dusty and herbal on the back end but not short. (Drink between 2020-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Minuit Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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JD 94 (5/2021): The 2018 Minuit comes from the Yakima Valley and is 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 50% new French oak. This inky hued effort has a great nose of ripe black and blue fruits as well as liquid violets, charred earth, and graphite. Beautifully textured and full-bodied, with an expansive yet still elegant, seamless texture, this stunning Malbec is up with the finest expressions of the grape from Washington.
VM 93 (3/2022): The 2018 Minuit blends 70% Malbec with the reminder Cabernet Sauvignon. It exudes class, offering blackberry and black tea tones that meld with the serious combination of tension and weight, and finishes exceedingly long. While highly gratifying to enjoy now, this has at least a decade of life ahead of it. (Drink between 2021-2035). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (10/2021): A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Minuit displays a deep opaque core with an electric pink rim. Exploding from the glass come aromas of Chambord, black raspberry reduction and plum compote with cinnamon spices. Medium to full-bodied, the juicy palate offers a broad and structured mouthfeel with buttressing tannins that lift the mid-palate. The wind concludes with a long, lingering and ever-evolving finish. |
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2019 |
Minuit Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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WA 91 (5/2023): The 2019 Minuit is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is lifted with a juicy fruit frame, offering a firm and sturdy core of ripe fruit. Full-bodied, it offers flavors of dusty black raspberry across the mid-palate with a balanced structure and firm tannic edge. The Minuit continues to evolve on the palate and delivers a seductively long finish. I recommend decanting at least 30 minutes prior to enjoyment.
VM 91 (3/2023): The 2019 Minuit, a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, impresses with its vibrant mix of black raspberries complemented by violet florals and sweet smoke. This is silky-smooth, with a seductively spicy mix of ripe red berries accelerated by juicy acidity that keeps the style wildly fresh. The 2019 is packed full of energy, tapering off wickedly spicy and fresh with only the slightest hint of tannin that lingers on. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido. |
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2020 |
Minuit Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Mostly Malbec with 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Minuit is big, juicy and plummy with fresh, dark, tightly wound and spicy red fruit on the nose with an elegant floral lift. It is full-bodied, spicy and juicy on the palate, with flavors of black raspberry and spiced plum compote, fine-grained tannins and a lingering, food-friendly finish. The wine rested for 20 months in French oak barrels, 61% new.
VM 93 (1/2024): Dark and floral, the 2020 Minuit presents a mix of dusty violets, lavender and crushed blackberries. This is medium-bodied and perfumed, with a savory rush of tart wild berry fruit that flows across a core of saline minerals. A coating of fine tannins tugs at the senses as the 2020 finishes long and potent. A concentration of raspberry and sour orange lingers. The Minuit is a blend of 72% Malbec and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido.
JD 90 (6/2023): The Malbec-dominated 2020 Minuit (72% Malbec and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon) reveals a deep ruby/plum hue as well as an impressive bouquet of spiced black and blue fruits, candied flowers, orange blossom, and spice. These carry to a medium-bodied, elegant, nicely focused red with a firmer, slightly chalky mouthfeel and good length. As with many 2020s, there's a clear, subtle, smoky influence in the tannins, yet it stays nicely balanced and enjoyable. |
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2014 |
Quintessence Vyd. Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
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WA 94 (6/2017): I loved the 2014 Quintessence Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon (68% Malbec and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon) from barrel, and it certainly didn't disappoint from bottle. Sporting a deep purple color as well as fabulous notes of cassis, blueberries, tobacco leaf and incense, it's a full-bodied, voluptuous, seamless, downright sexy beauty that's already impossible to resist. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. It's one of the best Malbecs from Washington.
VM 92+ (10/2017): Bright ruby. Alluring high-pitched aromas of black cherry, blackberry, lavender, licorice and sage. Sweet, juicy and concentrated but tightly wound and backward in the context of this collection. The dried berry flavor is accented by spicy oak and supported by a firm spine of dusty tannins. Finishes juicy, firm and long, with a note of vanilla bean. Very Cabernet in its structure, and in need of cellaring. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2016 |
Quintessence Vyd. Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
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WA 92+ (12/2019): The 2016 Quintessence Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon is 71% Malbec and the remaining portion Cabernet Sauvignon. Displaying a black and blue-fruited core on the nose, aromas of blackcurrant, black plum and blueberry compote waft from the glass with purple flowers and rich cinnamon spices from the elegant French oak. The wine is full-bodied on the palate and reveals a texture of melted dark chocolate, with oak spices meeting the fruit flavors as structured tannins add to the complexity. It concludes with a long, balanced and softly spicy finish.
VM 92+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Briary crushed blackberry, cassis and licorice along with a faint herbal aspect on the slightly wild nose. At once dense and juicy, with its intense purple berry and violet flavors conveying a strong impression of energy. Very pure but tightly wound, this seamless wine offers subtle sweetness and finishes very long, with late Malbec suggestions (or should I say Nebbiolo?) of tar and rose. (14% alcohol; half of the wine's Malbec component spent ten weeks on its skins) (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 92 (4/2019): A great example of the variety (and I’m seeing more and more impressive Malbecs from the state), the 2016 Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon Quintessence Vineyard from Red Mountain offers classic blue fruits in a young, jammy, primary style that fills the mouth with fruit. Inky colored, nicely balanced, with sweet tannins and some floral, violet characteristics, it’s going to benefit from a year in bottle and keep for 7-8. |
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2012 |
Red Willow Vyd. Malbec |
$25 |
1 |
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| VM 91+ (11/2015): Bright, deep ruby. Aromas of cassis, blueberry, kirsch and violet, with a touch of tar in a Nebbiolo way; almost liqueur-like. The juicy, spicy, high-pitched dark berries come across as classically dry owing to the wine's firm underlying backbone. This seriously structured, tannic, backward wine needs time in the cellar, or a piece of beef. Half of this wine received an extended maceration lasting eight weeks, which winemaker Chris Upchurch says has given it more of a grape-skin phenolic quality. (Drink between 2019-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Red Willow Vyd. Malbec |
$25 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Malbec Red Willow Vineyard is one of the finest Malbec coming from the state. Offering up a huge nose of blueberries, blackberries, crushed flowers, toasty oak, and Asian spices, this beauty is full-bodied, has a seductive, ripe, layered texture, sweet tannin, and a great finish. It’s a rocking good wine to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years.
VM 91 (11/2018): Bright ruby. Aromas of dark berries, licorice, tree bark and sagebrush, plus a wilder note of garrigue. Tactile and thick but bright as well, with its dark fruit, lavender, licorice and chalky mineral flavors complemented by a lower-toned note of tobacco. In a plush, fine-grained style, combining savory notes and hints of very ripe fruit. Finishes with suave tannins and excellent length. Very Malbec! (14% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2024). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Red Willow Vyd. Red Wine |
$20 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2020): The 2017 Red Willow is a Cabernet Franc-dominated wine that includes 32% Merlot and a splash of Cabernet Franc. It has wonderful notes of tobacco, damp earth, and cedary herbs as well as lots of black cherry and ripe currant fruits, medium to full body, terrific balance, and enough underlying structure to keep it evolving for 10-15 years or more.
VM 91 (12/2020): Medium red-ruby color. Strong Cabernet Franc leafiness along with aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, mocha and spices. Fine-grained, vinous, savory and suave; quite different in this line-up in its dominant red fruits and rooty spices. Very supple tannins will support aging without getting in the way of fairly early enjoyment. There's Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend but the Franc dominates and the wine's sweetness is restrained by its herbal element. (a new wine for DeLille Cellars) (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Red Willow Vyd. Red Wine |
$39 |
1 |
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JD 95 (5/2021): A Cabernet Franc-dominated wine, the 2018 Red Willow Blend checks in as 57% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, all brought up in 36% new French oak. It's another gorgeous 2018 from this team revealing incredible purity and elegance as well as richness. Blue fruits, forest floor, flowers, and graphite are just some of the nuances and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture and a slightly bloody, salty character on the finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's an awesome Cabernet Franc.
VM 94 (3/2022): The 2018 Red Wine Red Willow is a silky, elegant wine that blends 57% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it offers florals combined with sagebrush, blackberry compote and black licorice underpinnings. Fresh, vibrant and silky-smooth on the attack, this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Highly refined yet showing good weight, this outstanding Left Bank-inspired red blend will satisfy for at least another decade to come. (Drink between 2021-2034). Owen Bargreen. |
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2019 |
Red Willow Vyd. Red Wine |
$39 |
1 |
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WA 93 (5/2023): Mostly Cabernet Franc with 35% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Red Willow opens to a nose of dark cherry with hints of roasted red pepper, black raspberry and soft red and purple florals. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features soft and elegant brown baking spices from the 38% new French oak and exudes a ripe and juicy frame across the mid-palate. The wine continues to unpack and reveal its secrets as persistent flavors of fresh, ripe, picturesque red plum and blackberry skin sway with a food-friendly and delightfully oaky finish.
VM 92 (3/2023): Dusty florals and peppery herbs give way to crushed black raspberries and a dusting of cocoa as the 2019 Red Willow comes to life in the glass. This coasts along the palate, cooling and full of energy, showing its minerality up front. Juicy red and black fruits give way to grippy tannins that settle in toward the close. The 2019 has sneaky concentration that leaves the palate wrapped up in youthful tension, along with fine tannins that will require a number of years to fully mellow. The Red Willow is a blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
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2013 |
Shaw Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
1 |
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WA 95 (6/2016): A new cuvee from this estate and from a vineyard in the northeast portion of Red Mountain, the sensational 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Shaw Red Mountain Vineyard is a big, concentrated Cabernet that offers tons of blackcurrants, graphite, crushed rock, licorice and sweet oak in a full-bodied, seamless and elegant package. Possessing fabulous purity and tons of tannic grip, a good portion of which are covered by sweet fruit, this beautiful wine is certainly approachable now due to its balance and purity of fruit, but needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 15-20 years.
VM 91 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and bitter chocolate. Densely packed, sweet and rich; an almost California-like bomb of dark berries and chocolate. Finishes ripely complex and long, but without the complexity of the best red wines from this producer. (Drink Between 2017-2022). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
2 |
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VM 94 (10/2017): Bright medium ruby. Very ripe aromas of raspberry, violet and game, plus a touch of lead pencil that probably comes from Ciel du Cheval. A plush, generous blueberry and raspberry fruit bomb, perfectly energized by harmonious acidity and high notes of flowers and blood orange. A wonderfully silky, sophisticated Syrah with terrific fruit preservation. Finishes savory and very long, with utterly seamless but firm tannins and uncanny vibrancy. (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2017): Readers looking for a good introduction into the Rhône-styled wines from this estate should purchase a bottle of the 2014 Syrah Signature. Incorporating 2% Viognier, it offers classic Washington State characteristics of black and blue fruits, lavender, pepper and violets in a medium to full-bodied, sweetly fruited and elegant yet pleasure-bent style that's always a joy to drink. I like it today, but it will keep nicely through 2024. |
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2015 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 93 (11/2018): Bright medium ruby. Sexy aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, crushed stone and violet. Doesn't offer quite the detail of the superlative 2014 model but delivers a lovely combination of sweetness and salinity. This tactile, suave wine finishes with perfectly integrated tannins and noteworthy freshness. Boasts serious spine but there's nothing dry or austere about this young Syrah. Stephen Tanzer.
JD 91 (4/2018): The 2015 Signature Syrah (which includes 2%) comes from Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, and Boushey Vineyards and was completely destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s another Rhône look alike and offers classic notes of blackberries, black olives, bacon fat, and peppery herbs. It’s medium-bodied, fresh, nicely concentrated, and balanced, with present, yet ripe, tannin. It will keep for a decade.\ |
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2017 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Inky blackberry, cassis, violet and black olive on the nose. Wonderfully smooth and mouthfilling, with black fruit, violet and bitter chocolate flavors offering superb concentration and sexy sweetness. Here, too, the tannins are serious but utterly suave, and the finishing flavors of dark berries and violet build inexorably. This savory, brisk, clearly delineated Syrah should evolve gracefully in the cellar. Not a gamey style but primary, dense and built to age, finishing with palate-saturating tannins. Plusher in its youth than the more tightly wound 2016, this will give more early pleasure. (aged for 20 months in 35% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 92 (4/2020): While not at the level of the 2016, the 2017 Syrah Signature is nevertheless a beautiful effort, and readers looking to see what top grade Syrah from Washington tastes like should give it a whirl. Deep purple-colored with complex notes of blue fruits, lavender, and ground pepper, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a wonderfully balanced mouthfeel, good concentration and the elegance and purity to evolve for 10-12 years.
WA 91+ (10/2020): A blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Signature displays a dark ruby core with a purple rim and offers aromas of blackberry jus with hints of smoke and black pepper, followed by baked earth and dried violets. Medium to full-bodied, the wine unfolds across the mid-palate to reveal flavors of black raspberry, black tea and bitter dark chocolate and shows youthful tannins that will lend longevity. It ends with a sensation of black cherry skin on the lingering finish. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 20 months in French oak, one-third of which was first fill. It certainly checks all the boxes. Nice wine. |
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2018 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 94 (3/2022): The beautiful 2018 Syrah Signature includes a touch of Viognier (2%). It’s very fresh and somewhat hedonistic with its massive dark fruit profile, and layers of dark chocolate shavings, black tea and exotic spices all add to the intrigue. This has the stuffing and finesse to last at least another decade. (Drink between 2021-2032). Owen Bargreen.
JD 93 (5/2021): Including 2% Viognier, the 2018 Syrah Signature offers a vivid purple hue to go with rock star notes of cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with smoked earth, graphite, peppered game, and background oak. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, it has enough background oak (and a kiss of char) to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age, and it should easily keep for a decade. I love its purity of this classic Syrah.
WA 92 (10/2021): Opaque at its core with a purple rim and deeply staining tears, the 2018 Syrah Signature opens with aromas of spiced plum compote, blackberry just and spiced black cherry skin before soft notions of crushed black pepper and wilted violets waft from the nose. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced on the palate, giving way to layers of dusty, black-fruited essences with fine-grained tannins. The Syrah ends with a delightfully lingering finish that will continue to be food-friendly for the next 7-8 years. |
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2019 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 92 (3/2023): The 2019 Syrah Signature is spicy and intense with masses of dark red and black berries tinged with wild herbal tones and hints of underbrush. This washes across the palate with silky textural dark red fruits and exotic spices contrasted by a twang of sour citrus. It finishes lightly structured yet staining, with cooling herbal and mineral tones that linger on. (Drink between 2025-2031). Eric Guido.
WA 91 (5/2023): Made with 2% Viognier, the 2019 Syrah Signature starts with a dense and rocky core of dark red and juicy black fruits that sway with aromas of freshly cracked peppercorns and red flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a textural mouthfeel with elements of bitter dark chocolate, smoked lavender and blackberry skin before gliding to a food-friendly finish with slightly elevated alcohol. Give it a try. |
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2020 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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WA 92 (5/2023): Made with 1% Viognier, the 2020 Syrah Signature is savory with classic aromas of dark berries, hung meat and sausages before mineral-dusted flowers waft on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, the wine continues to grow in amplitude, offering layers of clean, expressive and focused dark fruit, savory herbs and a mineral core. It ends with a fine, spicy, mineral-laced finish that makes me crave food. Just under 9,000 bottles were filled from Syrah that was barrel aged for 20 months in French oak, 33% new. Bravo!
VM 92 (8/2023): Blackberries, olives, mentholated herbs and spiced citrus combine to create a seductively savory bouquet as the 2020 Syrah Signature blossoms in the glass. This is soft and round, nearly fleshy in feel. A core of brisk acidity balances the wine. A mass of dark red and black fruits wash across the palate, leaving a staining of minerality in their wake. While lightly structured and incredibly long, it finishes remarkably fresh and cool-toned in feel, with a tart blackberry resonance that lingers. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido.
JD 90 (6/2023): The 2020 Syrah Signature (which includes 1% Viognier) offers a beautiful nose of ripe blackberries, blueberries, smoked herbs, violets, and gamey, leathery nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate and nicely balanced, it has good mid-palate density, solid balance, and some chalky tannins on the finish. There's a touch of smoke influence here, but the wine is nicely balanced and clearly offers pleasure. |
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2014 |
Upchurch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
6 |
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| | USA White |
| DeLille Cellars |
2013 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
23 |
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| VM 94 (1/2020): Bright yellow. Very sexy aromas of fresh apricot, marzipan, nuts, brioche and mocha oak; revealing plenty of secondary character but no impression of tiredness. Surprisingly rich but vinous and penetrating on the palate, with its fresh yellow fruit flavors framed and enlivened by perfectly integrated acidity, a suggestion of lemon-rind piquancy and saline minerality. This racy blend is still quite firm and youthful on the back end but is already a seamless drink. It has the energy and structure to go on for another decade in a cold cellar. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2014 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
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2014 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc (1.5 L) |
$65 |
1 |
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| |
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2015 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$28 |
1 |
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| |
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2016 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
25 |
|
| |
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2017 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (11/2018): (90% barrel-fermented, 60% new, then aged entirely in barrels for six months with batonnage): Full, bright yellow. Aromas of nectarine, white peach, coconut, fig and spices, plus a whiff of pine forest. Concentrated, layered wine with stone fruit flavors complicated by a savory element. Really maintains its thickness and verve through the subtle, palate-staining finish. A wonderfully food-friendly, complex wine. (13.8% alcohol). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
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2021 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
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2012 |
Doyenne Roussanne |
$30 |
2 |
|
| |
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2013 |
Doyenne Roussanne |
$30 |
8 |
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| |
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2014 |
Doyenne Roussanne |
$30 |
2 |
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| |
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2015 |
Doyenne Roussanne |
$30 |
1 |
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| |
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2016 |
Roussanne |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
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2017 |
Roussanne |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
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2018 |
Roussanne |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
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2019 |
Roussanne |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
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2020 |
Roussanne |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
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2021 |
Roussanne |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
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