Very Good++ This has come along nicely since the last bottle over four years ago. Smooth texture up front and some creaminess but not overtly ripe. There's something pith/reduction/taut joining the stone and citrus fruits. Continued to get better with air. Remember not to drink too cold!
14.1% abv
Empty bottle weight: 541g
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Last bottle of 6 from the 2016 vintage of this excellent WA state Bordeaux blanc. Still very nice and fresh and a great pairing with a Salad Nicoise with barely seared Ahi tuna. Just purchased 6 bottles of the 2021 vintage.
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(DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc) Hello friends. Today we have only the second-ever DeLille offer in Full Pull’s history. I’m delighted that the folks at this special Washington winery are willing to allow our list members access to some of their lovely wines. DeLille was founded in Woodinville in 1992 by Charles Lil, Greg Lil, Jay Soloff, and Chris Upchurch. To set the scene, at that point there were exactly four wineries in Woodinville. Two are still around today (Ste Michelle and Columbia), and two are gone (French Creek and Facelli). So DeLille is the third-oldest winery still operating in Woodinville, and they essentially pioneered the boutique winery movement in the area. They were also among the first to make and promote Bordeaux blends, and among the first to consider items in the vineyard like row orientation (previously many of the vineyards were oriented to match the surrounding roads), spacing, and clonal selection. Pioneers to be sure, and 25 years in, the wines are better than ever. We have a terrific trio today:Speaking of pioneers, was there anyone in Washington making white Bordeaux blends when DeLille kicked off Chaleur Estate Blanc? This is among the finest white wines made in Washington each year, and ageworthy too. Last year I checked in on a bottle of 2001, and it was glorious, all savory and smoky goodness, with a bright vein of acidity still kicking. The current vintage is a 68/32 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, much of it (41%) old vine Sagemoor material, the remainder from Boushey and Klipsun. Listed alc is 14.1%, and this mixes citrus and fig fruit with compelling subtleties of sweet spice and savory hay. What a fabulous nose. The palate balances glyceryl heft with a bright vein of acidity; it’s texturally flawless, and about as good a vintage as I can remember of Chaleur Blanc. Seems Tanzer agrees. Vinous: Copyrighted material withheld. [Context note: this is the highest score Tanzer has bestowed upon any Washington dry white. Ever. It is matched only by 94pt reviews for the 2011 and 2013 vintages of the same wine. From Tanzer’s point of view, this is as good as it gets for white winemaking in Washington.]
NOTE: Some content is property of JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and JamesSuckling.com and Full Pull.
4/15/2024 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but not as good as I remembered. Drink now.
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12/20/2023 - tward Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very Good++
This has come along nicely since the last bottle over four years ago. Smooth texture up front and some creaminess but not overtly ripe. There's something pith/reduction/taut joining the stone and citrus fruits. Continued to get better with air. Remember not to drink too cold!
14.1% abv
Empty bottle weight: 541g
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2023 - moorewine3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent with poached lobster tail and roasted potatoes
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9/23/2023 - RichD2 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Holding well developing some tertiary flavor of nuts, but fruit is still present with balancing acidity
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7/6/2023 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle of 6 from the 2016 vintage of this excellent WA state Bordeaux blanc. Still very nice and fresh and a great pairing with a Salad Nicoise with barely seared Ahi tuna. Just purchased 6 bottles of the 2021 vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment