Special Events: DeLille 30th Anniversary Celebration
Today, Delille opened its doors to its members and wine lovers alike, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of their winery and signature style. Founded in 1992 by Chris Upchurch, Jay Soloff, Greg Lill, and Charles Lill, Delille has brought Bordeaux style wines to Washington state, and made some of those styles their own with exciting New World takes on Old World favorites. The celebration welcomes hundreds of guests, starting with a commemorative glass and a wine passport to mark the different pours throughout the property, and teach a bit about their history and favorite labels. The brand new 2021 Rose was a welcoming starter, crisp and light, perfect for the beautiful 65-degree day here in Woodinville. Next up, the 2019 Chaleur Blanc, which is not only a Library pour, but has also been served in the White House and was named a Wine of the Year in Washington, first White wine to accomplish the feat. We then journeyed into the Barrel room and production facility for a beautiful glass of the 2019 Signature Syrah. It was there that we met Paige and Jason, winemakers of Delille and extremely friendly and wonderful people. We were shown their fermenting facilities, to include stainless steel, concrete, and oak tanks which give Delille their signature flavors and blending abilities.
Moving on to the 2nd floor, we were welcomed with a glass of the always lovely and signature 2019 D2 blend, commonly known by Delille members and those who aren’t very familiar with the brand. The 2nd floor also contains the library, where the best and boldest are on display, to include Magnum bottles and a gorgeous collection of old vintages that any serious wine collector would love to call their own. Leaving the library, we were offered a pour of the 2019 Chaleur Estate red blend from Red Mountain. This Cabernet Sauvignon heavy blend rounded out nicely with 24% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, and the charcuterie table to the side made for some delicious pairings. Lastly, we ventured upstairs to the rooftop tasting area and tasted our last pour, the 2019 Four Flags, named so due to the 4 vineyards that supply the Cabernet Sauvignon to his blend. While many Cab only bottles are single vineyard, the Four Flags does a masterful job of blending what are already 4 wonderful lots of grapes into a Cab “super blend”, that stays rounded yet packs the Cab punch we all know and love.
All in all, Delille put on a magical event, showcasing 6 of their acclaimed wines, while also allowing a look into their process and their history. The staff was wonderful, and you could tell that everyone loved being a part of the love that goes into each bottle. I will be returning to see our friends at Delille and watch as their mission to bring Bordeaux to the Pacific Northwest continues for the next 30 years!
*Bordeaux Inspired – Distinctly Washington – Uniquely DeLille*