DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Rouge 2020 (750ml)

The 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon vines from Ciel du Cheval are once again the soul of this wine and responsible for its incredible richness. Marionberry, green peppercorn, fresh truffle and pomegranate seed are muddled with baking spices and warm oak undertones. Dubrul Vineyard Merlot (23%) provides fresh blueberry and Maraschino cherry notes while rounding out the mid-palate to create a seamless transition to a dense, pondering finish. With plenty of time to open up, there is everything to love about this effort. Cellaring 12+ years will help tame the tannins and bring along even more complexity. N.B.

95 Points

Anthony Mueller, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

95 Points

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Chaleur Estate is firm, fresh and floral with notions of elegant red berries and oak tones on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and focused, the palate offers a clean frame of picturesque cherries and red plums while exuding finesse and precision. Balanced, complex and lively, the wine continues to evolve over the long-lingering, food-friendly finish. Only 7,272 bottles were made after the wine spent almost two years in all-new French oak barrels. Anthony Mueller, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

May 2023

Additional Scores:

95
Jeb Dunnuck

92
Wine & Spirits

95
Owen Bargreen