The 2006 Chaleur Estate is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA. Purple-colored, it displays an enticing bouquet of toast, spice box, black currant and blackberry. Already complex on the palate, it has superb density and outstanding integration of oak, tannin, and acidity. Give this lengthy effort another 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2021. DeLille Cellars and Doyenne are sister labels, the former for Bordeaux-style wines and the latter for Rhone-style wines. They will be reviewed separately.www.delillecellars.com

At first this Chaleur Estate seemed closed up tight and lightly herbal, but grudgingly opened with streaks of olive, chalk, coffee grounds. A second bottle was much brighter, layered with plum, cherry, chocolate, herb, and an impression of pepper. Subtle and sleek, this wine is built to age and needs to be decanted.——P.G.(11/1/2009)—— 93