2015 Chaleur Blanc

Right off the bat, there’s bouquet of white pepper, lemongrass, brioche, grapefruit, caramelized pineapple and vanilla followed by sweet grass and white flowers. The mouth follows with almond butter, pineapple upside down cake, apple crisp and campfire smoke framing the dried fruit and honey. Wow, this vintage is complex and generously flavored – an outstanding Chaleur Blanc!

$57

93+ Points

— Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

93+ Points

“Fully ripe but exhilaratingly sappy aromas of tropical fruits, lemon oil, fig and honeysuckle. Very sexy, complex and smooth on the palate, with expressive flavors of citrus fruits, honey, wild herbs and flowers(Upchurch described the wine as “more Smith-Haut-Lafitte than Domaine de Chevalier in style,” which isn’t much of a stretch considering its high quality in recent years). Finishes with outstanding subtle length and thrust. The Sauvignon Blanc from Sagemoor, reportedly the oldest planting of this variety in the state,makes up a good percentage of this wine. Incidentally, this is DeLille Cellars’ 22nd year of making a white Bordeaux blend in Washington.”

November 2016

Additional Scores:

91

Robert Parker

Behind the Wine