About the Winery:
DeLille Cellars is a boutique artisan winery located in Woodinville, Washington. The winery was founded in 1992 by Charles and Greg Lill, Jay Soloff and celebrated winemaker Chris Upchurch. Today winemaking is in the capable hands of Jason Gorski, who began at DeLille in 2011 and was officially named winemaker in 2014, and Nick Bernstein, who joined DeLille back in 2012 after winemaking stints in New Zealand, Sonoma and Santa Barbara. The mission at DeLille Cellars has always been to create a new Bordeaux blend using Washington State vineyards. From the beginning, the winery has looked towards the prestigious Red Mountain AVA as the foundation of its wines, using grapes from its own vineyards in combination with fruit from other top sites in the Yakima Valley.
Notes from the Winemaker:
The 2019 D2 aromas dance effortlessly between savory and dried fruit characteristics. Cranberries, roasted coffee beans, cassis and burnt orange are highlighted by deep, rich barrel tones of nutmeg, vanilla bean, dark chocolate and clove. As the wine develops in the glass, the fruit profile shifts between red and dark fruits, a trademark of D2 that we love. •An inviting freshness and pronounced herbal quality on the palate leads to a structure that is refined despite the wine’s youth. Be confident that this blend of 13 iconic vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley will cellar for 15+ years.
Vineyard: D2 is sourced from 15 Columbia Valley Vineyards, including Red Willow, Harrison Hill, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Boushey, DuBrul, Upchurch and Grand Ciel.
Blend: 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
94 Points & #30 Top 100 of 2022 - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Polish meets structure in this red, which offers well-defined black cherry, toasty spice and bay leaf accents as this slowly unfurls toward fine-grained tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 15,000 cases made." - TF (Aug 2022)
94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2019 D2 (60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is terrific, with a ruby/purple hue as well as gorgeous cassis and black cherry fruits, notes of spicy, dried herbs, and lead pencil, medium to full body, and a pure, balanced, undeniably delicious profile. It’s going to keep for 15-20 years and is one heck of a wine." (Jul 2021)
93+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Composed of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2019 D2 Proprietary Red Wine comes with an energetic core. Tasted in tandem with the 2018, the 2019 will perform better with additional bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, flavors of black cherry and bright red fruits sway with an oak-tinged mid-palate followed by a delicate mineral tension with hints of graphite. Finishing long, the wine continues to linger with persistence and intention, but give it time. Your patience will be rewarded! Drink 2024 - 2036" - AM (May 2023)
93 Points - Vinous Media:
"Masses of crushed wild blueberries, tart cherry, sage nuances and a hint of spiced citrus rinds waft up from the 2019 D2. This is elegant and silky in feel, with peppery-tinged red and blue fruits underscored by saline-mineral tones that add a lovely tactile feel toward the close. It tapers off structured and concentrated, and yet it maintains a fantastically fresh persona. Frankly, it's amazing to think that the D2 is the "entry-level" Bordeaux blend from DeLille Cellars. The 2019 is a Merlot-heavy blend rounded out with 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024 - 2032." -EG (Oct 2022)
