A few days ago I had the chance to visit DeLille Cellars and one of the great winemaking talents in Washington, Jason Gorski. DeLille is one of the longstanding Woodinville wineries that rose to prominence under eminent winemaker Chris Upchurch. DeLille Cellars was the first winery in Washington to focus on creating Bordeaux style wine blends and makes arguably the best Bordeaux style white wine in North America with its ‘Chaleur Blanc.’ DeLille sources from their estate, 20-acre vineyard in Red Mountain as well as premier vineyards in the Yakima Valley. I have been really impressed with this winery and what they have produced over the past five years. They soon will have their new winery built in what was formerly the Red Hook Brewery. I can’t wait to check out that modern facility which I toured a few months back.
Jason makes one of the top Rose wines in the Pacific Northwest, their 2018 DeLille Cellars Rose (WWB, 92) which has an amazing mouthfeel and wonderful layers of pretty red fruits. Their new 2017 DeLille Rousssanne (WWB, 93) is also one of the best in the state, showing wonderful melon tones and a beautiful viscosity on the palate. Do not miss out on their 2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Grand Ciel’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is rich, decadent and marvelous in its youth but has twenty or more years to go. Learn more about this fantastic winery at www.delillecellars.com Here are the great new release wines from DeLille.
2017 DeLille Cellars Roussanne- The 2017 Roussanne by DeLille Cellars is a spectacular effort by the talented Jason Gorski. On the nose there is really nice non-fruit aromas with wild mushroom and suggestions of macadamia nut that connect with the melon tones on the nose. The texture to this wine is really enticing as the wine delivers bright starfruit, brioche and marvelous earthy undertones with minerals. The mouth-watering acidity complete this beautiful bottling. Drink 2019-2025- 93
2017 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine- The 2017 ‘Chaleur Blanc’ is a spectacular effort from this exciting vintage for white wines. A blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc with the remainder Semillon, the wine shows better at a warmer temperature. The nose is impressive with tropical fruits that mingle with brilliant melon and nutty tones that resonate in the glass. The palate is showing a wonderful texture and viscosity, giving off an almost unctuous mouthfeel. The salinity really comes out when the wine is warmed up. Lemon zest and brioche flavors combine brilliantly with shades of banana and minerals. Hugely complex and satisfying, the exceedingly long finish lingers. This brilliant effort will evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94
2017 DeLille Cellars ‘Metier’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Metier’ is a silky blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah with just a touch of Cinsault. The Grenache is quite prominent now with the high toned rede fruits with citrus rind, while the Mourvedre provides the smoky tones that round out the nose. The palate has a gorgeous mouthfeel and shows a savory edge that yields gobs of lip smacking acidity. The generous texture adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Doyenne’ Red Wine- A blend of 60% Syrah with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, the ‘Doyenne’ is entirely sourced from the Red Mountain AVA. The nose is powerful with dark fruits that mingle with sagebrush and earthy undertones with shades of chocolate. The palate has wonderful richness with chocolate and coffee ground flavors that mingle with minerals and dark fruits. Complex and delicious, this is exceedingly good at this juncture and will continue to evolve well over the next deacde. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Signature’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Signature’ Syrah is another stunning new release by DeLille Cellars sourced from the Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Boushey Vineyards. On the nose there is really good range from sagebrush to milk chocolate and dark cherry cordial that all build in the glass. There is a wonderful decadence to this wine which unveils a great combination of mouthfeel and acidity. Black Forest Cake, mocha and anise flavors with dried herbal tones complete this fantastic wine. Drink this fantastic wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2015 DeLille Cellars ‘Grand Ciel’ Syrah- The 2015 ‘Grand Ciel’ Syrah shows off its inky color in the glass. Entirely sourced from this Red Mountain AVA wine, the ‘Grand Ciel’ opens with aromatics of mocha, tar and black fruits that all build int he glass. The palate is dense and seductive with black tea, creosote and blackberry compote flavors with hints of milk chocolate. This is seriously good now and will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2016 DeLille Cellars Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of 71% Malbec with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, this was entirely sourced from the Quintessence Vineyard. The winemaker had a few lots from the vineyard and chose a barrel selection based on what he felt best expressed the vineyard and vintage. The wine begins with aromas of blueberry pie with black tea and exotic spices that all commend your attention in the glass. The texture here is seriously good, providing a seductive and unctuous mouthfeel. Copious dark and blue fruits blend together with chocolate and exotic spices on the palate. Fantastic now, this will evolve well over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2035- 95
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Four Flags’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Four Flags’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine which was sourced from the four vineyards in Red Mountain. The nose here is seriously good with herbal tones that mingle with blackberry compote, mocha and shades of iodine that run through this complex nose. The wine shows a beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon with the lighter sagebrush and black tea tones alongside milk chocolate, anise and creme de cassis flavors. Complex and delicious in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Lot 3’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Lot 3’ is sourced entirely from the Klipsun Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA. The Cabernet was aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine saw some extended maceration during the fermentation process. Heady aromatics greet you with black cherry cordial, mocha and tar that fill the nose. The palate is exceedingly dense and decadent with black tea, asian spices, mocha and copious dark fruits. Exceedingly good in its youth, this will evolve well over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2040- 95
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Lot 4’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is sourced from the Discovery Vineyard. On the nose this takes on simply gorgeous tones. Beautiful rose petals connect with dried herbs, mocha, and milk chocolate with cassis undertones that all collide on this expressive nose. The palate has wonderful concentration and poise, with dense black fruit and herbal tones that exude class. This finishes exceedingly long. Enjoy this fantastic new bottling for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2040- 95
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Harrison Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Harrison Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon ifs another sensational effort by superstar winemaker Jason Gorski. On the nose this shows gorgeous aromatics of dried sagebrush, crushed mint and copious dark fruits with a touch of anise that all collect momentum in the glass. The palate is plush, revealing a wonderful decadence as light tannins frame the wine. Mocha, anise and creme de cassis with sagebrush tones all collide once in the mouth, with a lithe sense of minerality. Dense and decadent, yet showing a wonderful elegance, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95
2016 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Chaleur Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning effort from this warm vintage in Washington. On the nose this takes on lovely herbal aromatics that resolve with copious dark fruits that fill the glass. The palate has light tannins and amazing elegance as there is a seamless quality that runs through the wine. Mocha, anise, cassis and blackberry cobbler with a nice salinity that runs through the wine. The balance is wonderful here. Enjoy this over the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95
2015 DeLille Cellar ‘Grand Ciel’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Grand Ciel’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another stunning Red Mountain AVA bottling by the talented Jason Gorski. densely colored, the ‘Grand Ciel’ opens with seductive aromatics of sagebrush, red bell pepper, tar and suggestions of blackberry compote that all shine in the glass. The palate is exceptionally dense and plush with mocha, tar, anise and sagebrush tones that all impress. While obviously quite rich, this has a wonderful elegance. Enjoy this fantastic new wine over the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95