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2016 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine storage unit; Purchased direct from winery; Consignor is original owner

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

95+ Jeb Dunnuck

...notes of black fruits, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and scorched earth. Deep, full-bodied, and beautifully layered, with subtle background oak and building structure...

94The Wine Advocate

...core of fruit and a classic expressions of a Cabernet blend on the nose. Full-bodied in the mouth, robust dusty cherries with a black-fruited core coat the palate with a delicate mineral tension that is lively and energetic, showing both complexity and precision. The elegant French oak tones are more present on the long-lingering finish...

94+ Stephen Tanzer

...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.

94Wine Enthusiast

...aromas are brooding, with notes of scorched earth, black cherry, licorice, graphite and barrel spice. Velvety, full-bodied dark chocolate and cherry flavors follow.

93Wine Spectator

Impressively structured, with multilayered currant, crushed stone and smoky bay leaf notes that build richness toward big but well-groomed tannins.

93James Suckling

Aromas of graphite and dark berries lead to a fresh and fluid palate that carries a long, sleek serving of fine, ripe and polished tannins. This holds flavor and fleshy texture impressively long with some toasty oak that dresses the finish in fine style.

PRODUCER

Delille Cellars

DeLille Cellars was founded in 1992 in Woodinville, Washington, by the Lill family, Jay Soloff and Chris Upchurch, who is the winemaker. The family and the founding partners still own and operate the estate, considered one of the best in Washington. The estate makes Bordeaux-style red and white wines under several labels, which are DeLille Cellars, Doyenne and Grand Ciel. The flagship wines include DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate, which is typically 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The Grand Ciel wines are small-production, luxury cuvees that come from the famous Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain appellation of Eastern Washington. The first Grand Ciel vintage was 2004. Wine Advocate gave the 2005 Grand Ciel 95 pts and called it “opulent.” The Doyenne wines are Rhone-style Syrahs, Roussannes and blends.

REGION

United States, Washington, Yakima Valley

Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA created in Washington State. The valley, a 600,000-acre area in south central Washington, was granted AVA status in 1983. In 1984 Columbia Valley was given AVA status, and Yakima Valley was enclosed within the Columbia Valley AVA. Nevertheless, Yakima Valley remains home to the largest concentration of vineyards and wineries in the state. There are more than 60 wineries and some 16,000 vineyard acres, and nearly 40% of Washington wines are made with Yakima Valley grapes. The most frequently planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking here dates to 1869, when a winemaker from Alsace planted grape vines. Vineyard planting and wine production plodded along slowly until the early 1980s when numerous modern pioneers started making well-reviewed Yakima Valley wines. Some of the state’s newest, most closely watched appellations, including Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA, are contained within Yakima Valley.

VINTAGE

2016 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate