Chelle Den Millie Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled flank steak, roasted lamb chops, portobello mushrooms
✨ Technical Specifications
Kerloo Cellars' Chelle den Millie Malbec is a striking expression of Washington State's capability with this classic Bordeaux variety. Sourced from the esteemed Chelle den Millie Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, this wine benefits from the region's warm days and cool nights, which preserve natural acidity while allowing the grapes to reach optimal phenolic ripeness. Winemaker Ryan Crane employs a low-intervention approach, utilizing neutral French oak to let the pure, vibrant fruit and distinctive terroir shine through. The vineyard itself is named in honor of family members Michelle and Mildred, adding a deeply personal touch to this meticulously crafted red. On the palate, it typically reveals layers of dark plum, blackberry, savory dried herbs, and a touch of cocoa, backed by fine-grained tannins and a mineral-driven finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2007 by winemaker Ryan Crane, Kerloo Cellars takes its name from the echoing call of the sandhill crane, symbolizing Crane's calling to craft authentic, terroir-driven Washington State wines. After studying viticulture and enology in Walla Walla and honing his cellar craft at Forgeron Cellars and Va Piano Vineyards, Crane built Kerloo around meticulous fruit sourcing from esteemed, sustainably farmed vineyard sites spanning the Walla Walla Valley, Yakima Valley, and Columbia Gorge. His cellaring philosophy prioritizes minimal intervention, foot-treading, native fermentations, neutral oak, and concrete maturation to highlight purity of site and varietal transparency. Kerloo built a devoted following for its cool-climate Rhone-style expressions and vibrant single-vineyard bottlings, including Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Boushey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and single-site Grenache, Syrah, and Grenache Rosé from benchmark crus like Upland and Painted Hills.
🍇 Grapes
Malbec