DeLille Cellars
Chaleur Estate Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Buttery, earthy, waxy nose with a note of burnt toast. Although it’s 75% Sauvignon and only 25% Semillon, it tastes and smells like the percentages are reversed. Intense, rich bitter pear and toast flavors. Very full bodied. Finish lingers quite a while. Very good, though probably not everyone’s’cup of tea.
Buttery, earthy, waxy nose with a note of burnt toast. Although it’s 75% Sauvignon and only 25% Semillon, it tastes and smells like the percentages are reversed. Intense, rich bitter pear and toast flavors. Very full bodied. Finish lingers quite a while. Very good, though probably not everyone’s’cup of tea.
Nov 24th, 2017
In 2015, mostly SB @76%, good portion fermented in French oak. Paired this with white bean/escarole soup tipped with balsamic and shredded, aged Manchego.
Vibrant silver. Aromas of fig leaf/sap, lemon blossom, zest/oil, a hint green herb. Texturaly rich, viscous, dry add totally engaging. Was quickly drained.
In 2015, mostly SB @76%, good portion fermented in French oak. Paired this with white bean/escarole soup tipped with balsamic and shredded, aged Manchego.
Vibrant silver. Aromas of fig leaf/sap, lemon blossom, zest/oil, a hint green herb. Texturaly rich, viscous, dry add totally engaging. Was quickly drained.
Really quite lovely, esp on day 2. Golden fruit, Meyer lemon, creamy vanilla, waxy texture (more semillon character than SB). Chardonnay but not, amazing value
Really quite lovely, esp on day 2. Golden fruit, Meyer lemon, creamy vanilla, waxy texture (more semillon character than SB). Chardonnay but not, amazing value
1 person found it helpfulJan 22nd, 2019Delicious white Bordeaux blend—lemon, buttery pineapple, gooseberry, toasty vanilla, and enough acidity to cut through all the richness
Delicious white Bordeaux blend—lemon, buttery pineapple, gooseberry, toasty vanilla, and enough acidity to cut through all the richness
1 person found it helpfulDec 25th, 2018
Pale yellow white in color, excellent clarity. Sulfur, dried apricot, wood and cheese rind notes in nose. (Thanks to previous tasters, it's a ringer for the rind of a hard dry cheese like a Parmigiano Reggiano - all that extended contact with creamy lees). Apricot, pumpkin, lemon juice flavors, medium bodied. Crisp finish with lactic and citrus-orange undertones. Mild astringency across most of tongue. Pleasing balance of acid and alcohol. In the mouth, you get something a bit like the smell from the inside of a Halloween jack o'lantern (paraffin wax candle included) or an oven baked acorn squash with real Parmesan cheese in it. The 25% Semillon character comes through in the richer flavors and more syrupy mouthfeel. Elegant wine, makes a statement, or certainly reflects the winemaking effort. Not sure I love it, but it is well made and aims at being something refined and distinct. Give it a chance. Cries out for roast chicken or simple rustic cuisine, though I'll probably sip away at it the rest of the evening and think about autumn and shorter days...
Pale yellow white in color, excellent clarity. Sulfur, dried apricot, wood and cheese rind notes in nose. (Thanks to previous tasters, it's a ringer for the rind of a hard dry cheese like a Parmigiano Reggiano - all that extended contact with creamy lees). Apricot, pumpkin, lemon juice flavors, medium bodied. Crisp finish with lactic and citrus-orange undertones. Mild astringency across most of tongue. Pleasing balance of acid and alcohol. In the mouth, you get something a bit like the smell from the inside of a Halloween jack o'lantern (paraffin wax candle included) or an oven baked acorn squash with real Parmesan cheese in it. The 25% Semillon character comes through in the richer flavors and more syrupy mouthfeel. Elegant wine, makes a statement, or certainly reflects the winemaking effort. Not sure I love it, but it is well made and aims at being something refined and distinct. Give it a chance. Cries out for roast chicken or simple rustic cuisine, though I'll probably sip away at it the rest of the evening and think about autumn and shorter days...
1 person found it helpfulJul 22nd, 2018
Oak, cheese rind from heavy lees contact, and marked presence of semillon despite only 1/4 of the blend. Very ripe fruit with fragrant yellow apples and daffodils.
Oak, cheese rind from heavy lees contact, and marked presence of semillon despite only 1/4 of the blend. Very ripe fruit with fragrant yellow apples and daffodils.
1 person found it helpfulMay 19th, 2018Great acidity balanced by intense lees.
Great acidity balanced by intense lees.
1 person found it helpfulOct 28th, 2015The winery pours this last... after the Reds. They call it the white wine for red wine drinkers. That's pretty accurate.
The winery pours this last... after the Reds. They call it the white wine for red wine drinkers. That's pretty accurate.
1 person found it helpfulJul 31st, 2015
Wasn't really expecting much out of this one, but it was a bit of an eye opener. Aging in a very similar way to a great Graves. This was clearly very oak forward in its youth, but the oak, while still prominent, has integrated and works well with the honeyed and nutty notes that predominate. Just beginning to turn golden with an acid backbone that can easily carry it out another ten years or so. Fun lunch wine.
Wasn't really expecting much out of this one, but it was a bit of an eye opener. Aging in a very similar way to a great Graves. This was clearly very oak forward in its youth, but the oak, while still prominent, has integrated and works well with the honeyed and nutty notes that predominate. Just beginning to turn golden with an acid backbone that can easily carry it out another ten years or so. Fun lunch wine.
Jun 17th, 2017