2020 De Lille Cellars Proprietary Blend Le Dessein
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Tasting notes
The darkly alluring 2020 D2 blends crushed wild berries with peppery florals and hints of licorice. This is vividly fruit-focused. Stimulating acidity offsets the D2’s round textures, playing notes of sour orange against depths of ripe red and blue fruit. It tapers off long and energetic, with a web of fine-grained tannins that hugs the palate with youthful tension as a pleasantly tart sensation lingers.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Based on 44% Mourvèdre, 36% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, the 2020 Le Dessein has a meaty, medium-bodied, juicy style as well as both red and black fruits, some peppery, herbal, meaty nuances, high acidity, and a good finish. Well-made, this firmer, focused, slightly angular 2020 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep through 2030.
The 2020 D2 Proprietary Red Wine was made from 61% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The nose is as brilliant as always, with focused, dark red fruits, hints of black cherry skin and oak essence that sways out of the glass. Full-bodied and mineral tensioned, the palate offers fine-grained tannins with succulent healthy fruit flavors before ending with a fresh, food-friendly finish. At these prices, buy the entire case. About 108,000 bottles were filled after the wine rested in 68% new French oak for 20 months. Bravo!
61% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby in colour. Juicy, ripe, red plum macerated with mint on the nose. The palate has fresh high acid with eucalypt, cedar and vanilla notes. Balanced with a classic bordeaux profile. You could give it a couple years but it's lovely now. (SCJ)