Boasting a saturated black color, the 2001 Chaleur Estate Dixieme Anniversaire red is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, as well as 2% Petit Verdot, and 86% of its fruit is sourced from the warm vineyards of the Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area). This effort’s gorgeously complex and inviting aromatics display a panoply of spices, including clove, cinnamon, and juniper berries, intertwined with sweet blueberries, jammy blackberries, cassis, as well as toasty oak. Ample, medium to full-bodied deep, and exquisitely rich, it conquers the taster’s mouth with glorious breadth and power. The finest wine I’ve tasted from DeLille to date, it admirably combines winemaker Chris Upchurch’s signature elegance with the embracing, opulent fruit of the warm 2001 vintage. Completely angle free (its tannin and acidity are superbly integrated), this is a harmonious, plush wine with chocolate laced blackberry nectar flavors and an exceptionally long, fruit-packed finish. Drink it over the next 12 years. Tel. (425) 489-0544 www.delillecellars.com