Delas Chateauneuf du Pape Haute Pierre Red 2022
Country
France
Region
Southern Rhone Northern Rhone Rhone Valley
Grape Varieties
Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne
Wine Types
Still, Red, White
About Delas Freres
Delas Frères is a historic Rhône Valley wine house, founded in 1835 and known for, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Syrah and Grenache from the Northern and Southern Rhône. Based in Tain-l’Hermitage and part of the Roederer Collection, Delas produces wines from leading appellations including Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône. Their range offers a complete Rhône wine range, combining estate-owned vineyards, long-term grower partnerships, parcel-led winemaking and a refined house style built on finesse, structure and regional identity.
Delas Frères was founded in 1835, when Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas acquired Maisons Junique and renamed it Audibert & Delas. The house quickly gained an international reputation, earning recognition in export markets and at international competitions, including a gold medal in Sydney in 1879.
The Delas family connection deepened when Philippe Delas’s son Florentin married the daughter of Charles Audibert. In 1924, the next generation changed the name of the house to Delas Frères, establishing the identity still used today.
Heritage
A new era under Roederer
After a period of post-war growth, Delas Frères became part of Champagne Deutz in 1977 and then joined the Roederer Group in 1993. This marked an important phase of investment and renewal, while preserving the house’s autonomy and Rhône Valley identity.
From 1997, Chief Winemaker and Technical Director Jacques Grange played a central role in improving winemaking, ageing and vineyard precision. The brand’s 180th anniversary in 2015 marked another important step, with the acquisition of a property in Tain-l’Hermitage. This new home now provides a dedicated showcase for Delas Frères and supports the vinification of its most prestigious Northern Rhône crus.
Region and Vineyards
Northern Rhône vineyard holdings
Delas Frères works across both the Northern and Southern Rhône, but its estate vineyard strength is centred in the north. The house owns 30 hectares of vines, including 10 hectares in Hermitage, 2 hectares in Saint-Joseph and 18 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage.
These vineyards are planted on steep, complex sites where Syrah, Marsanne and Roussanne can express the granite slopes, exposure and structure associated with the Northern Rhône. The Hermitage hill is particularly important, giving Delas access to one of the Rhône Valley’s most prestigious terroirs.
Single-vineyard and grower partnerships
Delas Frères has built a strong reputation through selective single-vineyard wines. Les Bessards in Hermitage is produced only in exceptional years, from steep granitic slopes, with limited production. La Landonne in Côte-Rôtie is a 100% Syrah single-vineyard selection made only in the best vintages. Clos Boucher in Condrieu comes from a south-facing parcel near Château-Grillet, highlighting the aromatic precision of Viognier.
Alongside estate fruit, Delas works with long-term partner growers in appellations where it does not own vineyards, including Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Cornas and the Southern Rhône. These relationships are based on trust, technical monitoring and shared standards in the vineyard.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Vineyard precision and organic approach
Delas Frères has worked organically in its vineyards since 2013, although the estate is not certified organic. Vineyard work is adapted to individual plots, with particular attention to steep slopes, old vines, dry-stone walls and the preservation of each site’s identity.
In the Northern Rhône, where vineyards are often difficult to work, this approach requires detailed manual labour and careful timing. Harvest dates are selected according to the maturity of each parcel, supporting precision, balance and terroir expression.
Modern winery in Tain-l’Hermitage
The new winery in Tain-l’Hermitage represents a major investment in quality. It allows Delas to vinify and age its top appellation wines with greater precision, particularly from Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. The facility supports small-lot vinification, careful extraction and ageing adapted to each cuvée.
The house style under Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud focuses on elegance, purity and controlled structure. For Syrah, this means preserving fruit, spice, freshness and fine tannins rather than relying on excessive power. For white Rhône varieties such as Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, the emphasis is on texture, aromatic detail and balance.
Style of Wine
Delas Frères produces still red and white Rhône wines. The red wines are led by Syrah in the Northern Rhône, with Grenache and other Mediterranean varieties shaping the Southern Rhône range. The style combines depth, aromatic intensity and polished structure, from accessible Côtes du Rhône to age-worthy Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitage.
The white wines include Marsanne and Roussanne from Hermitage and Saint-Joseph, as well as Viognier from Condrieu. They typically show texture, floral lift, stone fruit, mineral detail and a balanced richness. Across the range, Delas Frères is known for refinement, consistency and a clear sense of Rhône identity.
A Rhône benchmark in the UK wine trade
Delas Frères offers a complete Rhône ladder from one producer. Côtes du Rhône supports by-the-glass and regional listings, while Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage add depth for fine dining, independent retail and collector-led cellars. Its range cover both everyday Rhône demand and premium appellation needs.
