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.
Soils are very stony with various depths, mainly consisting of large quartz stones mixed with red, sandy clay.
Chateauneuf du Pape is the driest area of the Cotes du Rhone where the Mistral is vitally important to grape ripening. 2,800 hours of sunshine a year are reflected by the large stones on the surface of the soil.
Grapes are destemmed and fermented into concrete vats followed by 8-10 days of maceration. The wine is aged for a period of 8-14 months in 60 hectolitre oak tuns.
Deep garnet in colour full of strong spices on the nose. The palate is silky and tightly knit with liquorice notes on the finish.
Perfect served with traditional "provencale" stews.
The Wine Advocate: 92-94 POINTS
October 31, 2018, Joe Czerwinski
“Full-bodied and rich, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Haute Pierre combines red and black fruits with hints of leather, allspice and clove to create a complex, seamless whole. It’s not flashy, oversized or oaky, just a solid, foudre-aged blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah that harkens back to healthy traditions.”
Jeb Dunnuck: 92-94 POINTS
August 28, 2018, Jeb Dunnuck
“Not yet bottled, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Haute-Pierre sports a deep ruby/purple color as well as a classic, traditional bouquet of ripe cherries, blackberries, sandalwood, and scorched earth. It’s concentrated, has bright acidity, building tannin, and a great finish, all pointing to a wine that’s going to need short-term cellaring yet keep for 10-15 years. It’s a classic, superb wine from this team.”
Wine & Spirits: 90 POINTS, YEAR’S BEST
October 2018
“Mostly grenache, with ten percent syrah, this is a spicy, rich Châteauneuf, with notes of fir, sage and rosemary adding freshness to the soft, sweet fruit. A crowd-pleasing style, it’s a good fit for a holiday table, with roast turkey.”
Chateauneuf du Pape AOC
Grenache: 90%
Syrah: 10%
Cork
Yes
Yes