DeLille Chaleur Estate Red 1997
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
The winery set out some years back to make a Washington equivalent of classified Bordeaux, and no one has come closer. Winemaker Chris Upchurch captures the lead pencil/cigarbox nuances of Pauillac, and uses the deep, dark, slightly bitter black-cherry fruit to full advantage. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this may well be the best wine made in Washington.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1997 Chaleur Estate is reminiscent of a wine from the Margaux commune in Bordeaux. Dark ruby-colored, and boasting a nose of violets, cassis, and blackberries, this is a medium to full-bodied, powerfully flavored and structured wine. Roses, violets, and assorted other flowers are intermingled with highly expressive cassis, black cherry, and blackberry flavors. Built for the long haul, this is a firmly structured, chewy-textured wine.
Other Vintages
2008-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker
DeLille Cellars is a boutique artisan winery located in Woodinville, Washington. Founded in 1992 by Charles and Greg Lill, Jay Soloff, and winemaker Chris Upchurch, DeLille Cellars pioneered Bordeaux-style blends in Washington State (both red and white) - inspiring Robert Parker, in a visit to the original Chateau in Woodinville, to proclaim DeLille Cellars “the Lafite Rothschild of Washington State.”
DeLille Cellars is considered a principal influence in establishing Washington as a premier viticultural region with a strong tradition of quality and excellence over its 25-year history. Today, the winery has a portfolio of over a dozen Bordeaux and Rhône style blends true to the terroir of Washington State.
The winery's passion lies in showcasing the powerful, concentrated and structured fruit of Washington State through the European art of blending - not only through various combinations of Bordeaux and Rhone grape varieties, but also via combining fruit from acclaimed vineyards to
express the unique terroir of the region. DeLille Cellars focuses on the Red Mountain AVA and grape sourcing from Washington's leading Grand Cru vineyards, including Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Upchurch, Red Willow, Sagemoor, Klipsun, Boushey, DuBrul and Harrison Hill.