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.
In the northern part of the vineyard, the Côte Brune consists of extremely steep, terraced slopes of ferruginous mica schists which are covered with schist sand (arzel).The Côte Blonde has a varied geology with gneiss and granite predominating at the most southern side of the appellation. The climate is tempered continental with dry, hot summers and regular rainfall during other seasons.
The grapes for the “Seigneur de Maugiron” cuvée are picked by hand, plot by plot, at peak maturity. Fermentation takes place in traditional open-topped concrete tanks, following two days of pre-fermentary cold maceration. The maceration process continues under controlled temperatures of 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C). Daily cap pushing down and pumping over are carried out for about 10 days with total vatting time of up to 20 days. The wine is aged for 14 to 16 months, in new or one year old oak casks. The barrels are topped up regularly.
2017 was one of the earliest harvests on record. A year for excellent quality but much smaller harvests across the region. Claire Darnaud reported ‘the perfect vintage with amazing weather conditions: warm and sunny since April, with just a few rainfalls at exactly the time when the vines were starting to show stress… basically no disease pressure, weeds have been growing very little and spraying, as well ploughing the soils, could be kept to a minimum… come harvest time, the foliage was absolutely perfect – green and healthy.’
The color is deep crimson. The powerful yet subtle nose of Côte-Rôtie “Seigneur de Maugiron” has black currant, red currant, licorice and smoky aromas, underscored with light woody notes. The palate shows a tightly knit tannic framework. The wine is well-balanced with a silky texture. It unites fine concentration with great delicacy.
This wine pairs well with fine meats, roast beef, water games, truffles and spicy stews. It is recommended to open the bottle one to three hours before serving and decanted if the wine has been laid down for more than five years.
Wine Enthusiast
93 POINTS
July 1, 2020, Anna Lee C. Iijima
“Ripe but pristine blackberry and cassis are fresh and juicy in this primary but elegant wine. Medium bodied and vibrantly composed, it’s lifted by crisp acidity and taut, persistent tannins. The finish lingers on delicate notes of cocoa, licorice and black pepper. At peak now–2030.”
JamesSuckling.com
93 POINTS
October 12, 2019, James Suckling
“This has quite composed, very spicy and attractive florals and white pepper, as well as woody spices, licorice and stones. The palate offers a sleek, fine yet long and powerful impression of ripe red plums and summer berries. Very composed. 100% syrah. Try from 2023.”
Wine Spectator
93 POINTS
October 9, 2019, James Molesworth
“Well-packed, with red and black currant compote, dried bay leaf, singed mesquite and sanguine notes, all running through an iron-tinged finish. Solid grip. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
Vinous Media
92-93 POINTS
July 18, 2019, Josh Raynolds
“Brilliant violet color. Fresh cherry and blackberry scents are complemented by suggestions of licorice, candied flowers and five-spice powder. Smooth, sweet and lively on the palate, offering cherry and dark berry preserve flavors that show excellent clarity and a hint of florality that builds up slowly on the back half. Shows impressive energy and dark fruit thrust on the clinging finish, which is framed by dusty, slow-building tannins.”
Jeb Dunnuck
93-95 POINTS
December 20, 2018, Jeb Dunnuck
“From parcels in both the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, the 100% Syrah 2017 Côte Rôtie Seigneur De Maugiron offers more black fruits, scorched earth, and graphite, with more obvious tannins. Deep, rich, and concentrated, it’s doesn’t have the silky, seamless style of the La Landonne but is a brilliant, layered wine that’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15+.”
Côte-Rôtie AOC
100% Syrah
Cork
Yes
Yes
