2014 DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon (deleted duplicate)

Drinks like a Triple Digit Napa Cabernet

Robert Parker once hailed DeLille Cellars as the “Lafite-Rothschild of Washington State.” The engine driving such praise is Chris Upchurch, the winemaking superstar whose prowess has yielded over seventy 93- to 97-point Wine Advocate scores. The age-worthy 2014 DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon adds to this roster of impressive tallies. Parker’s publication swoons for Upchurch’s deep dive into Washington’s renowned Red Mountain appellation, praising its “full-bodied, rich, and textured style” while awarding it 94 points. If this were a Napa wine, it would command triple digits. But its Washington State zip code also delivers brilliance at an unreal value. 

Upchurch’s passion for winemaking can be obsessive at times. To wit: he spontaneously whipped up a Syrah-Cabernet blend the morning of his wedding to serve at his reception — a decision that gave him grape-stained hands at the ceremony. It’s a fire that’s been stoked over the years by study under Washington viticultural pioneer David Lake, MW and across-the-pond sojourns to estates like Château Haut-Brion in the Pessac-Léognan.

The fruits of this studiousness — specifically, his near-instinctual ability to detect the tiniest terroir-driven nuance — anchors the 2014 DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon. The “flags” are four exceptional vineyards in the Red Mountain appellation, each equipped with their own interpretation of the terroir: Grand Ciel brings elegance; Ciel du Cheval delivers structure; Klipsun summons power; and Upchurch’s own 18.5-acre plot gives the wine a rich edge.

The grapes coalesce into a sublime melange of fruit-forward essence, firm tannins, and decadent yet restrained texture. This is an essential wine for the serious wine collector; with its price point, hesitating may leave you empty-handed.

• ABV 14.10%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2035
• 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 64°