2020 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc Columbia Valley 750 ml

Lush fruit. Nice acidity. Deep complexity. Ask a friend to describe Bordeaux and that’s likely what they’ll say…but they’ll probably be describing red wine. Yet Bordeaux Blancs deliver those same enticing characteristics in stunning blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon that we love to see taking hold in excellent New World terroirs. 

DeLille’s 2020 Chaleur Blanc is a gorgeous marriage of freshness, minerality, and supple fruit—showing why Robert Parker called them “the Lafite-Rothschild of Washington State,” and why Jeb Dunnuck singled out the cuvée as “one of the top Bordeaux white blends from the New World.”

Old World elegance, meet New World vibrancy. Aromas of lemon curd, grapefruit, and vanilla call from the glass, previewing the layers of citrus, tree fruit, and herbs that emerge on the palate. Aged on the lees in 60% new French oak, the wine perfectly balances the crisp energy we love in Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon‘s weight and texture to yield a creamy richness that will enthrall Chardonnay lovers. 

The DeLille team assembled the blend from three of the state’s most prized vineyards. Klipsun, a sunny site in the hills above the Yakima River that Wine & Spirits once named one of the Top 25 Vineyards in the World, contributes ripe, bold fruit. Boushey, a cooler, high-elevation plot in the Yakima Valley adds freshness and aromatic depth. And Sagemoor, in the heart of the Columbia Valley, provides old-vines grapes with excellent concentration. 

Everything melds beautifully in the bottle, exhibiting exactly why Washington is such an exciting locale for Bordeaux-inspired wines.