(an 80/20 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon; the winery cut back on the percentage of Semillon in 2010): Bright full yellow. Knockout nose combines musky curry powder and cumin notes with pineapple oil, ginger and chlorophyll; today it's the sauvignon blanc that dominates. Then supple and intense in the mouth, with excellent acidity serving to frame and intensify the peach, citrus, chlorophyll and basil flavors. Finishes very long, serious and suave, leaving an impression of fairly low alcohol. A beauty. (12/ 2011)
DeLille’s 2010 Chaleur Estate Blanc -- a blend of Sauvignon with 23% Semillon from four manifestly superbly well-managed sites -- is dominated by lime peel-laced fig and honeydew melon, to which honeysuckle and heliotrope perfume add allure, and an aura of smokiness and high-toned suggestion of almond extract and peppermint add further pungent intrigue. The palate impression here manages adroitly to balance waxy texture, zesty piquancy, and infectious juiciness. 'If you made the quantity of Semillon equal, it would take over the blend,' notes Upchurch, channeling precisely the hypothesis I was myself entertaining at that moment. Everybody’s giving up on Semillon,' he adds with (what I at least hope is) hyperbole, 'Californians, South Americans, even Australians; but I love working with it.' Upchurch is proud of the particular assortment of barrels he has assembled to suit his Chaleur white, and it came as a big surprise to me after tasting this installment to learn that 70% of them were new; but the trick is that the wine spends only four months in them, based on what Upchurch, by analogy with baking, calls the 'TODD' principle: take it out when it’s done, dummy! This is likely to reward and morph significantly over a decade of cellaring. (12/ 2012)
Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.
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2012 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier $10.99
2011 Conundrum White Blend $19.99
2011 Seven Hills Oregon Pinot Gris $13.99
2011 Rainstorm Pinot Gris Oregon $8.99
2011 Eyrie Vineyards "Estate" Dundee Hills Pinot Gris $11.99
