Delas Freres Le Clos Crozes Hermitage 2015

Producer Information

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.

Vineyards

The soils in the northerly vineyards are mainly over granite subsoils that follow on from those of the Hermitage hill. To the south the soils are both fluvial-glacial alluviums, with terraces of rolled stones from the old river bed, mixed with loess.

The climate has a southerly exposure in the hillside areas and is tempered by the Mistral wind.

Winemaking

“Le Clos” grapes are harvested at optimum maturity from this single vineyard. The winemaking is done in traditional open-topped concrete tanks, following a 2 day period of skin contact at low temperature. The fermentation follows at controlled temperatures from 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C). Daily cap pushing down and pumping over are carried out for about 10 days. The total vatting time can last up to 20 days.

Maturation lasts for 10 to 14 months in oak barrels which have already held wine for 1 to 3 years.

Vintage Information

2015 was a very early vintage. Nevertheless, night time temperatures were low over the weeks leading up to the harvest and the end of the ripening period was quite slow.

Thanks to the dry soils, the vineyards were not affected by the heavy rainfall on the weekend of the 12th of September. The grapes from the low-lying vineyards were more fragile and had already been picked before the rainy spell.

The 2015 vintage is reminiscent of great years such as 1989, 1990 and more recently the 2009 vintage, but with more elegance.

Tasting Note

A deep ruby red colour with garnet tinges. The nose reveals aromas of stewed black fruit (cassis and blackberries) and as it opens up, hints of leather and game. The palate is perfectly balanced, with a combination of suave delicacy and considerable volume. The finish is lifted by flavours of very ripe black cherries.

Food Pairing

Delicious with mixed grills such as marinated beef or chicken.

Press

94 Points Robert Parker
The 2015 le Clos is the high end Crozes bottling from Delas Frères, aged 14-16 months in French oak. Give it some time in the glass to open up if you try one soon, as it´s tight and closed at first gradually developing floral notes and showing more black cherry and blackberry fruit. In the mouth, it´s velvety and concentrated, gradually fading on the finish into hints of licquorice and black pepper.

Crozes-Hermitage AOC
100% Syrah
Cork
Yes
Yes

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