Inspired by Bandol, DeLille Cellars has been consistently producing some of the finest Rose wines in the Pacific Northwest. Their first vintage of Rose was back in 2008 when few people were spending considerable time making Rose. At that time Rose was seen as an afterthought in our state and a wine that could be easily sold at wineries. DeLille helped change this trend by focusing on a richer and more complex style of Rose that can stand the test of time well.
Tasting with DeLille Director of Winemaking Jason Gorski, we were both impressed with the aging potential of some of these wines. I think we were both surprised with how the 2015 DeLille Rose (OB, 91) had held. This wine had great weight and was beautifully mature with tertiary tones really shining brightly. Utterly fabulous right now, the 2019 DeLille Rose (OB, 93) oozes with class, with bright tension and very pretty red fruits. This beauty is going to last for another six plus years. Learn more about this storied Washington winery at delillecellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the DeLille Cellars Rose Vertical Tasting.
2015 DeLille Cellars Rose- A blend of 53% Grenache with 34% Mouvedre and the remainder Cinsault, this shows off wild mushroom and bergamot with melon fruits and strawberry on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with surprisingly good acidity and wonderfully earthy tones. This is mature Washington Rose that is shockingly good considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2022-2025- 91
2017 DeLille Cellars Rose- Presenting with slightly less damp earth, and wonderfully bright, the 2017 DeLille Cellars Rose is a sensational wine by Jason Gorski. The palate is ultra-bright with vibrant minerality. Guava puree, white grapefruit and shades of cremini mushroom all come together magically on the palate, with stony minerals. The combination of weight and finesse deftly walks the tightrope here. Drink 2022-2028- 93
2019 DeLille Cellars Rose- A blend of 47% Grenache, 45% Mouvedre and just a touch of Cinsault. This vintage was the first to have included Red Heaven Vineyard Mourvedre and no Mourvedre from Stone Tree Vineyard. The wine is considerably more bright than the 2017 or 2015. The texture is outstanding here and bright with very pretty red cherry, red raspberry and shades of thyme. Complex and utterly delicious, warm this up a bit for more mouthfeel and serious length. Drink 2022-2028- 93
2020 DeLille Cellars Rose- The 2020 DeLille Cellars Rose is really hitting its stride now one year in the bottle. This blends 52% Mourvedre with 43% Grenache and a touch of Cinsault. This is already beautifully evolved, with serious weight and rocking earthy tones. Wild mushroom and forest floor flavor combine with ripe Yakima cherry and honeydew melon flavors. The weight is outstanding here as this beautifully evolved wine is best consumed over the next few years. Drink 2022-2026- 92
2021 DeLille Cellars Rose- Showing off a more orange hue, the 2021 DeLille Cellars is a silky blend of 49% Grenache with 46% Mourvedre and the remainder Cinsault. Aromatically very vibrant this reveals salmonberry and ripe melon tones that combine with shades of nectarine skin. The palate displays dazzling finesse with a soft mouthfeel. The pretty red fruits from the Grenache is really shining through here. Dazzling at this juncture, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2030- 93