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.
Deep garnet in colour with a sedictive nose of crushed black fruit (black cherry, blackberries and blackcurrents) which evolves into notes of liquorice. On the palate the wine is silky with silky tannins and excellent complexity.
Delicious with red meat, game and lamb served with roasted vegetables.
Robert Parker: 91 POINTS
This wine is the most charming of the three Crozes-Hermitage, revealing attractive notes of dried herbs and spices on the nose, along with red berries and black cherries. It´s medium bodied and savoury, marked by flavours of black olives and espresso, then it lightens again no the richly textured finish. Drink it over the next decade or so.
Wine Spectator: 93 POINTS
October 31, 2017, James Molesworth
“Focused, with a tight beam of raspberry coulis and warm plum compote flavors, flecked with savory and white pepper hints. A chalky spine harnesses everything on the finish. Very solid.”
Wine Enthusiast: 93 POINTS, CELLAR SELECTION
September 1, 2018, Anna Lee C. Iijima
“Savory tones of forest floor and dried herb accent ripe but restrained black-plum and cherry flavors in this full-bodied Syrah. It’s a concentrated, muscular wine with brisk acidity and firm, upright tannins. Quite taut now it should meld elegantly by 2020 and continue to improve through 2030.”
Crozes-Hermitage AOC
Syrah: 100%
Cork
Yes
Yes