2017 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate

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.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aromas of cherry and mocha and a touch of sun-warmed wood. Juicy and bright flavours of cherry and cedar have a nice red-miso umami character to them and excellent lift thanks to great acidity. With that lift, however, comes a bit of heat on the finish. Plush, velvety tannins. (AY)

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. What I would consider a Washington State First Growth, Delille Cellars produces both incredible quality as well as quantity, pulling from vineyards throughout the state of Washington. This is always one of my favorite tastings in Washington, and given that they pull from sites throughout the state, it’s a great way to learn about a given vintage. The winemaking team has been headed up by Jason Gorski for a number of years now and they continue to fashion a classic, balanced style of wine that has plenty of fruit as well as balanced, age-worthy profiles. They excel with both their Bordeaux varieties and their Rhones. Looking at the 2017s reviewed here, these show the more elegant, streamlined style of the vintage nicely and have plenty of site-specific characters. I think these check in behind the 2016s, but they are certainly terrific wines. The 2018, most of which were tasted from barrel, also have plenty of elegance and purity, and I think will be in the same ballpark, if not a step up over the 2017s. Either way, these are terrific wines across the board, and you can’t go wrong here. In addition to the reds, which get all the attention, don’t miss the whites from this estate. They’re unquestionably up with the best of the state.