DeLille Cellars was founded in 1992 by Greg Lill, Jay Soloff, Chris Upchurch, and Charles Lill. The winery, dedicated to making old-world style wines from new world fruit, is located in Woodinville, Washington.

The DeLille label produces five Bordeaux-blends: Grand Ciel, Chaleur Estate Red, D2, Harrison Hill, and Chaleur Estate Blanc. The Doyenne label produces a northern Rhône-style Syrah; a Southern Rhône-styled red wine (Métier); a Provençe-style red (Aix); a Provençe-style white (Métier Blanc); and a Roussanne.

Much of the winery’s fruit comes from Red Mountain vineyard, including Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Grand Ciel – DeLille’s own vineyard. The winery also sources fruit from Boushey, Harrison Hill, and Sagemoor Farm. These vineyards are among the top in the state.

The winery has received a great deal of recognition over the years. The Doyenne 2005 Aix was recently in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2008. Additionally, at the 21st Annual Auction of Washington wine, 21 liters of DeLille wine were auctioned off for a record setting $70,000.

Here we sample some of their recent releases.

Wines:
Score

 Name

 Notes

 $

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 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc

Lots of lemon and toasty, spicy oak aromas. Smooth and dry on the palate with light pineapple and citrus. A creamy mouthfeel without seeming over-oaked. 61% Sauvignon Blanc; 39% Semillon. Boushey, Sagemoor, and Klipsun Vineyards.

 $34

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 DeLille Cellars D2 2006

 Spicy plum and black and red currant mark this wine. A beautiful mouthfeel with lush tannins and fruit, an expansive mid-palate, and a long finish. 52.5% Merlot; 38.5% Cabernet; 7% Cab Franc; 2% Petit Verdot.

 $35

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 Doyenne Metier 2006

 A big, earthy nose with cranberry, raspberry and red fruit. The wine is front-loaded in the palette with a quick attack that then drops off gracefully. A beautiful tribute to the Rhone style. 40% Grenache; 40% Mourvedre; 20% Syrah. Ciel du Cheval and Boushey Vineyards.

 $32

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 Doyenne Aix Red Mountain 2006

 An earthy, jammy wine with lots of red fruit and a touch of mint. Remarkably light and refined in texture with a long finish. 64.5% Syrah; 35.5% Cabernet. Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, and Kiona Vineyards.

 $34

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 Doyenne Syrah Yakima Valley 2006

 Light smoke along with red fruit, red currant, earth, and floral notes. A bit more full on the palette than the others but is still quite elegant in style. A good, European-style wine. 98% Syrah; 2% Viognier. Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Boushey, and Kiona Vineyards.

$49