I was so excited to try this wine—honestly to relive it. I received a sample of the Delille Cellars Chaleur Blanc, but alas it was before I was taking wine notes so regularly and rigorously and, unfortunately, did not have anything to refer to when I received this year’s vintage. So, even though I could remember I enjoyed the wine before, I treated this like an all new experience. Well, it was everything I wanted it to be—full of flavor, round supple body, and yet always light and refreshing from start to finish. And I’m not usually a fan of white wine blends…
About the Wine: The Delille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc is made from 68% Sauvignon Blanc and 32% Semillon harvested from two separate vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State: the Sauvignon Blanc was sourced 41.1% Sagemoor Vineyard, 17.0% Boushey Vineyard, and 9.9% Klipsun Vineyard; the Semillon was sourced 18.8%Boushey and 13.2% Klipsun Vineyard.
The grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented in 90% French oak barrels (60% new) and 10% stainless steel tanks with partial native yeast, and aged sur lies for 7 months.
14.1% ABV
Flavor Profile: Pop the cork of the Delille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc and find fragrances of apples, pears, and white flowers. This white Bordeaux-style blend is a pure Champagne-hue on the pour and into the glass. Initial aromas are of agave nectar, melon, mango, and soft, kind of beachy florals. Swirl and find a bit of soft oak, cream, and vanilla.
The palate of the Delille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc is light, round, with a thin piercing acidity that rides throughout the tasting and into the aftertaste. Dominant flavors are of citrus, pineapple, white flowers, peaches, nectarines, some savory spices like cardamom and clove, and an afterbreath rich with vanilla bean.
Food Pairing: I paired the Delille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc with a grilled chicken breast served with roasted butternut squash, brussel sprouts, topped with brie, craisins, and caramelized onion. As delectable as this wine is on its own, it is certainly meant to be paired with food—specifically a meal like this. The butteriness of the dish just made the wine all the more unctuous. The acidity and savory elements in the wine came out a bit more during the course of the meal, cutting through the richness of the dish. Loved this pairing, highly recommend it, can’t wait to do it again.
More Info: I received the Delille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc as a sample for review. Price: $35. For more information about Delille Cellars, their wines, and to purchase wines directly, please visit the Delille Cellars website.
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