Doyenne Roussanne
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2012
2011 Doyenne Roussanne | 91 Points
Reviewed by David Schildknecht
Latest in a nearly decade-long line-up sourced from Tablas Creek clonal material planted at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard and vinified in older barriques, DeLille’s 2011 Doyenne Roussanne offers a delightful and very varietally typical nose of lime zest, honeysuckle, orange blossom, bee’s wax, and white peach whose fuzz seems to coat the palate as an invigorating adjunct to inner-mouth floral perfume, faint waxiness, and luscious juiciness. A telltale nip of white pepper adds to the stimulation of a vibrantly persistent finish, and the too-frequent tendency with very ripe renditions of this grape toward bitterness or finishing flatness is entirely avoided. This tongue-tingler ought to prove delightfully versatile at table for at least 3-4 years, though in the process it’s likely to take on a honeyed and more richly-textured patina.
Wines Northwest, October 2012
2011 Doyenne Roussanne Wine Of The Week Chuck Hill
While this wine is a little rich for pairing with delicate half-shell oysters, it is a killer combination with mussels and an overall stunning white wine for enjoying on its own. Aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and orchard blossom lead to a lip-smacking palate of succulent stone fruits, bright pear and melon flavors.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine, December 2011
2010 Doyenne Roussanne | 93 Points, Editor's Choice
A superb, 100% varietal Roussanne, with generous, toasty oak and polished, tart, tasty, supple stone fruits at the core. Exellent definition across a mix of peach and light tropical flavors, with suggestions of lanolin and beeswax. Just a bit of heat in the finish.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2011
2010 Doyenne Roussanne | 92 Points
Musky aromas of lemon, lime, honey and flowers. Juicy, pure and concentrated, with lovely intensity of peach and butternut squash flavor. This brisk, nicely aromatic wine finishes strong and long. Very impressive.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine July 2011
2009 Doyenne Roussanne | 90 points
This is 100% Roussanne from Red Mountain, whose heat gives the grape plenty of ripening.Here it reaches into high-toned, tropical and candied citrus fruits, accented with pungent aromas of spun sugar, fruit candy and a whiff of diesel. Complex, forward, juicy and just a little hot in the finish. —Paul Gregutt
Rand Sealey, Review of Washington Wines January 2010
www.reviewofwashingtonwines.com
2008 Doyenne Roussanne | 19/20 Points
Doyenne is the “Rhone/Provence” line from DeLille. This white offers an amazing, exotic nose of melon, Asian pear-apple and stone fruits with scents of chamomile tea, lilac, oriental flowers and wet stone. The flavors are expansive yet finely wrought with tones of cantaloupe, stony minerals, and just a hint of tropical fruit against a dry, intense background that leads to a deep, complex finish.
Stephen Tanzer, November/December 2009
2008 Doyenne Roussanne | 93 Points
($32) Pale, bright gold. Aromas of honey, minerals and fresh herbs complicated by a saline quality. At once pliant and gripping on the palate, with complex flavors of pear, lemon and spices. This big wine boasts terrific fruit intensity and persistence. From Ciel du Cheval fruit.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2007 Doyenne Roussanne | 90 Points
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, March 2009
2007 Doyenne Roussanne | 91 Points
Roussanne, with barely seven years history in Washington, is making good headway, thanks to efforts such as this. It seems to capture the floral and citrus complexity of the best Viogniers, while adding in richer layers of fruit through a pleasing honeyed middle. Lively and lingering, it has the balance and depth to improve in bottle over the next four or five years. --- P.G.
Seattle Wine Awards
2007 Doyenne Roussanne | Silver
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar November/December 2008
2007 Doyenne Roussanne | 92 Points
Bright, pale yellow. Intriguing aromas of smoke, brown spices and lime zest, with notes of honey and spun sugar emerging with aeration. At once dense, round and juicy, with a stony element and a leesy complexity contributing to the tactile mouth feel. Still a tad reduced, but a zesty quality gives this rich wine excellent bite and lift. Finishes broad, complex and long. A superb example of roussanne from Washington.
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar November/December 2008
2006 Doyenne Roussanne | 90 Points
Good bright straw-yellow. Aromas of lemon and white flowers. Intensely flavored and juicy, with some CO2 yet to be absorbed. But there's a lovely honeysuckle sweetness in the middle palate of this generous Roussanne, along with a touch of vanilla that's not from oak (both this and the Metier are made entirely in stainless steel). Finishes firm and persistent.
Jay Miller, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2006 Doyenne Roussanne | 90 Points
Doyenne’s 2006 Roussanne was raised in stainless steel. Medium straw-colored, it offers aromas of candle wax, honeysuckle, passion fruit, and peach. Supple-textured, ripe, and tasty, it has a long, suave finish, just the match for Pacific Northwest salmon.-J.M.
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2006 Doyenne Roussanne | 91 Points
This 100% Roussanne cleans the palate with a wash of acid, rock and tart fruit. A mix of white peach, stone fruits, citrus rind and a hint of unripe pineapple, it all adds up to a wine of elegance and complexity. This finish is firm, detailed and seamless, a delight all the way through.
Seattle Wine Awards June 2008
2006 Doyenne Roussanne | Gold Medal
Gold Medal ~ Grand Award of Excellence - First Place Overall
Seattle Times, Top 100 Washington Wines of 2007
2006 Doyenne Roussanne | #46 of 100
Paul Greggutt, Wine Adviser, December 19, 2007
Jay Miller, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2005 Doyenne Roussanne | 92 Points
The 2005 Roussanne is 100% stainless steel fermented and aged. A seductive perfume of honeysuckle, passion fruit, peach, and apricot leads to a rich wine with oodles of flavor, a velvety texture, superb balance, and a long, suave finish. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2005 Doyenne Roussanne | 91 Points
Pure Roussanne, all Ciel du Cheval fruit; supremely fresh, juicy and ripe. This is absolutely delicious fruit, ripe and bursting with all the flavors you could hope to find in the grape and the vineyard. The floral/citrus highlights are there, along with honeysuckle and lime. They lead gracefully into rich stone fruits, buttressed with tangy acids. Then into a sweetly peachy, creamy, lightly vanilla-flavored finish. This is the best Roussanne yet from Doyenne.
Top 100 Washington Wines of 2006
2005 Doyenne Roussanne | #62 of 100
From Paul Gregutt’s list of the best Washington wines for 2006!
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2004 Doyenne Roussanne | 90 Points
Lovely and creamy, with thick, juicy peach flavors of citrus peel, honey, lemon and white peach fruits. Graham cracker and oatmeal flavors coat the finish; over all a very fleshy mouthful of wine. Just 200 cases produced.
Pierre Rovani, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2004 Doyenne Roussanne | 89 Points
Wonderful aromas of dried honey are found in the nose of the 2004 Doyenne Roussanne. Medium bodied, silky-textured, and full-flavored, this dried honey and tangy citrus-flavored wine is fresh, pure, and vibrant. Drink it over the next 2 years.
