Founded 160 years ago in the heart of the northern Côtes du Rhône, Delas Freres today crafts world class wines from both northern and southern Rhône.
Tending the steep sloping vineyards, which total some 30 hectares of vines, the team adapt their growing practices to each plot of vines to let the terroir of the Rhône shine through in the wines.
Crafted by winemaker Jacques Grange (who is originally from Burgundy), the wines from Delas Freres epitomise finesse and elegance. Recent vintages from the vineyards of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Ventoux have bee lauded in the press for their intensity of flavour and excellent value.
Crozes Hermitage is the largest of the Northern Rhône appellations. It covers the territory of 11 communes in the Drôme “département”, on the left bank of the Rhône river.
In the Northern part of the region the soils are formed by the granitic slopes that run on from those of Hermitage. To the South, soils are alluvial, stemming from glacier and river beds, with benches made up of rolled stones and silt from the Rhône river.
Grapes are hand picked at maximum levels of ripeness. Winemaking preserves traditional winemaking techniques from the region. The wine ferments in open concrete tanks followed by cold-soaking. Daily pumping over extracts colour and tannins.
The wine is matured over a 14 month period, partly in tanks and partly in small second or third use burgundian barrels. Regular racking introduces oxygen and softens the tannins.
A rainy winter followed by a dry, warm spring gave good water reserves combined with high temperatures which resulted in early bud burst and a quick and healthy start to the vegetative cycle. In mid-May, flowering was followed by exceptional fruit set with almost every flower bearing fruit. July and August were cooler and the rain returned, in small amounts, but every weekend. Although not enough to disrupt the vegetative cycle, it was enough to worry the wine growers. The end of summer was sunny and windy with ideal weather for healthy vines with optimum ripeness levels. This ensured perfect conditions for harvesting. Delas was one of the last to harvest, particularly in the Côte-Rôtie (between the 22nd and the 24th of September) ensuring good phenolic ripeness.
2014 was an excellent year for the hillside vineyard parcels which produced low yields of outstanding quality.
Crushed black fruit – dark cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants – that evolve in the glass to reveal slightly smoky and liquorice notes. Lifted menthol notes complement the minerality. Silky tannins, complexity and structure, with a fantastic perfume.
Delicious with red meat, game and lamb served with roasted vegetables.
Crozes-Hermitage AOC
Syrah: 100%
Cork
Yes
Yes
