Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/490558
50 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2015 92 Doyenne 2012 AIX, Red Mountain ($42) A rich, vivid and spicy blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with plum, blackberry and cassis; lush, deep and balanced with notes of earth, violets and mocha. 92 DeLille Cellars 2013 Chaleur Estate Blanc, Columbia Valley ($39) Lush and smooth with lovely ripe citrus, melon and hints of oak; elegant, creamy with floral notes, honey and soft spices; bal- anced, seamless, dry and long. 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon. 92 Doyenne 2012 Signature, Yakima ($46) Dense, rich and lively Syrah with spice, blackberry and cassis; lush, intense and complex with balance and lovely style; long and juicy with notes of chocolate, licorice and vanilla. 2% Viognier. 93 DeLille Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Four Flags, Red Mountain ($69) Smooth and lush with lovely texture and depth; black raspberry, plum and vanilla; rich and complex, elegant and long. 91 DeLille Cellars 2012 D2, Columbia Valley ($48) Ripe plum and rich texture; dense, elegant and juicy; long and balanced. 50% Merlot, 42.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1.8% Petit Verdot. 93 DeLille Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Four Flags, Red Mountain ($70) Suave and spiced with plum and berry fruit; classic, elegant and dense with significant aging potential; seamless and balanced with polish and finesse. 95 DeLille Cellars 2012 Chaleur Estate, Red Mountain ($85) Smooth and elegant with stunning depth and style; soft, rich and expres- sive with ripe plum, blackberry and cassis; clean, deep and long with great concentration and purity; long and beautifully knit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. 96 DeLille Cellars 2012 Harrison Hill, Snipes Mountain ($100) An exquisite blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc; powerful and styl- ish with pure plum and cassis fruit, minerality and spice; hints of vanilla oak, full-bodied and still remarkably elegant; concentrated, complex and long with great finesse; masterful. { real somm stories } Washington Wonder DELILLE CELLARS IS A PACIFIC NORTHWEST STAR by Anthony Dias Blue IN JUST OVER TWO DECADES, DELILLE Cellars has become one of Washington's star wineries, one with something of a cult following thanks to keeping its portfolio in check and focusing on expressive render- ings of fruit from the state's best vineyards. Based in Woodinville, WA, north of Seattle, Delille was founded in 1992 by Czech immi- grant Charles Lill and his son Greg Lill, along with Jay Soloff and Chris Upchurch, who remains the winemaker. (Charles Lill passed away in 2008.) The winery sources its grapes from east- ern Washington, as do many other Seattle- area wineries. The main offerings under the DeLille Cellars label are polished Bordeaux- style varietals and blends, which Upchurch crafts with elegance and a sure hand. The Doyenne label, created for Rhône-style wines, was added after the celebrated Ciel du Cheval vineyard—Upchurch's favorite Red Mountain source—first planted Syrah in 1993. A top tier, Grand Ciel, followed when the winery planted French clones of Cabernet and Syrah on a prime Red Mountain site in the year 2000. Also, sourcing from the celebrated Klipsun vineyard and Upchurch's own Upchurch vineyard, has allowed Delille to grow their arsenal to 14 stellar wines that represent some of the best vineyard sites that Washington state has to offer. Chris Upchurch is Winemaker at DeLille Cellars. PHOTO COURTESY OF DELILLE CELLARS