The red wines begin with the 2007 D2, a blend of 51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. A total of 7 vineyards were sourced with 68% of the fruit coming from the Red Mountain AVA. Purple in color with an alluring bouquet of balsam wood, Asian spices, incense, cassis, and blackberry, on the palate it is lush with layered black fruits, plenty of spice, savory flavors, excellent volume, and a lengthy fruit-filled finish. Give it 3-4 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2013 to 2027. In the scheme of things, it is an excellent value. www.delillecellars.com

Essentially the same blend as the outstanding 2006, the new vintage of DeLille’s second red offers full, peppery flavors of currants and black cherries. You may wonder why fruit this good is declassified, until you taste the Chaleur Estate red. There’s more than a touch of barrel here; and this young wine turns a bit liquorous.——P.G.(8/1/2010)—— 89