2005 De Lille Cellars Chaleur Estate
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Tasting notes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. Deep garnet. Sticky, lightly oxidised cherry fruit. Dense and flavourful fruit on the palate with a light spice. I'd drink this now. (SCJ)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The only vintage to include Cabernet Sauvignon from the Grand Ciel vineyard on Red Mountain, the 2005 Chaleur Estate is a structured, firm, straight and age-worthy Bordeaux blend from this estate that offers lots of black fruits, lead pencil shavings, chocolate and toasted bread aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, with good richness and chewy tannin, it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity.
Naughty heavy bottle. I bought a case of an earlier vintage of this wine in the 1990s and it's still going strongish. Serious mineral nose, appetising. Lovely combination of sweetness and freshness and gloss. Well done! After a row of highly regarded Syrahs, this serves to remind me how good WA is at bordeaux varieties. Another Gary Werner wine. (JR)
Bright ruby-red. Cassis, boysenberry, tar and brown spices on the nose. Sweet and sexy on entry, then powerful and a bit youthfully aggressive in the middle, with a bit of alcohol (actually 14.9%) currently muting the black fruit flavors. This solidly structured wine finishes with excellent tannic grip but is currently a bit clenched. I'd give it five years of cellaring, at which time I suspect it will merit a higher score.