Regular Price $50.00, Ours is $39.99, with shipping included on 6 bottles or more

56% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 45 Petite Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc  We’ve long had a sort of crush on the hedonistic but also charming wines of Delille. This seminal Columbia Valley winery was founded on the principal that wines with Bordeaux-like finesse and longevity could be produced from the arid hills of Eastern Washington and, while proponents of other grapes and other styles (including a Rhone varietal program at Delille itself) have had their say in the state over the past decade or two, Bordeaux continues to remain the inspiration at this very fine cellar; and Delille continues to produce wines that channel their French counterparts without ever sacrificing even an ounce of their innate Washington-ness. While the Chaleur Estate and their several other single-vineyard offerings continue to wave the Grand Cru flags at DeLille, it’s their best-selling so-called second label D2 that best merges the mission of the winery with uncommon value in the category. Named after the road that runs through the heart of Bordeaux, D2 is sort of a mirror image of the flagship Chaleur Estate red, relying on wonderful Columbia Valley Merlot (around 60% of the blend) to lead the way with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot playing supporting roles. With upwards of a dozen different top-flight Columbia Valley vineyards like DeLille’s own Chaleur and Harrison Hill along with other iconic sources like Klipsun, Red Mountain, DuBrul and longtime winemaker Chris Upchurch’s own site to work with, D2 is determined always to be more than the sum of its many parts. The goal is balance- a wine where nothing stands out but everything does at the same time. The nose starts with dusky dark fruit- currant-Kirsch and blackberries, for sure, but also a hint of dried blueberry and higher toned mulberry too. Then comes the broad notes of chocolate mint, graphite, pipe tobacco, cedar shavings and crushed gravel…sort of like a wine from Margaux or Graves with the volume turned just a bit higher. On the palate comes the Columbia Valley’s abundant sunshine as well as its arid austerity- deeply concentrated flavors whose richness is tempered with just the right amount of acidity. That gras covers a curtain of tannins that will insure this delightfully fun-to-drink big Washington red will continue to have plenty of life even with a decade or so in your cellar. Eminently food-friendly, the winery recommends the obvious candidates like flank steaks and anything barbecue, but believes it also has the finesse to not dominate, say, a roast chicken or quail. The perfect red for hearty winter fare and those spring and summer gatherings in the backyard we’re looking forward to next year. And we love the price too. The 2021 version of this wine was our 2023 #9 Wine of the Year and the new vintage is even better! Only 7 cases available.