Syrah
3x75cl * 15.5% ABV * Hermitage, Northern Rhone, France
Delas Frères, founded in 1835, is a historic Rhone Valley winery based in Tain-l’Hermitage and forms part of the esteemed Roederer Collection. Today, the wines are crafted by winemaker Jacques Grange (who is originally from Burgundy).
This wine is made exclusively from the 'Les Grandes Vignes' plot situated at the peak of the Hermitage hillside at around 325m altitude. This primarily south-facing plot forms an ampitheatre of semicircular vine terraces. Made only in the very best years, production is limited to 1800 to 2000 bottles.
The harvested is carried out by hand, and the grapes are vinified with 80% whole clusters to enhance freshness, structure, and aromatic complexity. The wine sees about 18 months in oak, only 30% new.
On the nose, there's spice and leather intertwined with blackberry, heady floral notes, liquorice and incense. On the palate, the wine is rich and generous, with blueberry, raspberry, violets and bitter chocolate. There's also minerality and finesse from the granite soils. The ripe, smooth and well-integrated tannins add to the powerful structure of this wine.
Drink now to 2040.
'Cask sample. This is more obviously oaky and charry than the Bessards. Massive tannic power, without aggression. Dark, dark fruit, dry tannic finesse on the long finish. Hard to taste now but has the finesse to age well.' 18pts, Julia Harding MW for JancisRobinson.com (Nov 2021).
'Lastly, the 2020 Hermitage Ligne de Crête comes from the highest point on Hermitage and was destemmed and saw 20 months in a mix of new and once-used barrels. It's clearly the biggest, baddest beauty in the lineup and is another palate-saturating Hermitage with extraordinary richness and depth. Blackberries, currants, black truffle, smoked meats, espresso, and new leather notes all define this incredible wine, which has a deep, full-bodied, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ripe, velvety tannins, and incredibly minerality that emerges on the finish. This is legit, awesome Hermitage that needs to be forgotten for just 4-6 years and will evolve for 30+ years if well-stored.' 99pts, Jeb Dunnuck (March 2024)
'Deep, vivid ruby. Smoky, mineral and spice-accented red and dark berry preserve scents show excellent clarity and a sexy floral top note. Offers concentrated but wonderfully energetic blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavours that become sweeter and pick up hints of candied flowers, vanilla and olive on the back half. Finishes chewy, sharply focused and extremely long, with solid tannins adding shape and final grip.' 97-98pts, Vinous
'What an amazing nose this Hermitage has with effusive aromas of summer flowers, including red roses, plus pomegranate and licorice. Stunning concentration, but no less remarkable elegance. However, that's the rational way to describe this wine. Actually, I just want to sink into the embrace of this extraordinary beauty. Enormously long and refined finish.' 98pts, James Suckling.com (April 2023).
This wine is available to order by the case only (3x75cl) on a ship to order basis. It may take up to a few weeks for the stock to arrive. Do get in touch for a more specific ETA.