DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. Founded in the early 1990s, DeLille Cellars is a renowned American winery located in Washington State and famous for its Bordeaux-style wines. Chaleur Blanc is one of DeLille Cellars' signature wines. It's a groundbreaking wine for Washington State, and, in addition to its exceptional quality, its excellent value has made it enormously popular, so much so that it has been served repeatedly at White House events. It's a Bordeaux-style white blend of approximately 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, sourced from various vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA, including Boushey and Sagemoor. Fermentation takes place primarily in French oak (42% new) and to a lesser extent in stainless steel. The finished wine then ages on the lees for 6 months. In the glass, the wine reveals a rich and layered aromatic profile with initial notes of apple, apricot, and honeydew melon, followed by lemon zest, passion fruit, and toasted almonds over a background of dried herbs and spices. On the palate, it is broad, rich, and generous, with a creamy texture and bright acidity that balances the taste. It has a medium body and a long finish that evokes juicy tropical fruit notes and hints of shortcrust pastry. This white wine can age and evolve beautifully, but if you can't resist, enjoy it with a scallop risotto, a chicken Caesar salad, or seafood spaghetti.