We decided not to wait for a special occasion to drink DeLille Cellars 2006 D2. Every day is special, eh? And wow, so is this wine.

The name of this wine also has a special meaning for us, because it is named after the “grand route de vin” (principal wine route) in Bordeaux, where we spend a wonderful week a few years ago. In Bordeaux, there is a tradition of making a “deuxieme” or second wine. So D2 also represents an abbreviation for the second wine at DeLille Cellars.

Don’t let the description “second wine” fool you. This is a magnificent blend of 52.5% Merlot,  38.5% Cabernet Sauvignon , 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. I don’t use the word “magnificent” lightly! Regular readers know that my favorite wine is a Bordeaux blend, and this one generated a big sigh of happiness when I sipped it.

If you want further proof, check out these awards given to D2 over the years! Unfortunately, the 2006 vintage is sold out. But you can pre-order the 2007 vintage at DeLille’s website.

Update: Before I had a chance to post this, we also opened DeLille’s Doyenne 2006 AIX. This Provence-style Cab-Syrah blend also is highly recommended; in fact, Wine Spectator gave it 93 points in 2006 and the previous vintage. However, as mentioned (many times) I favor Bordeaux-style blends, so D2 was my preference!

Cheers!