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.
The Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is the first wine to be produced by Delas Freres exclusively from the 8.5 hectares that are farmed on the famous hill that overlooks the town of Tain. This cuvée is a blend of wines from three separate plots: l’Ermite, le Sabot and the famous terroir named Les Bessards. This wine replaced the Marquise de la Tourette cuvée starting with the 2009 vintage.
The soils are a combination of granite with alluvial quaternary delta deposits, and Pliocene marl. This diversity explains the numerous names given to vineyard plots within the appellation: Bessards, Greffi eux, Méal, Roucoule, Beaumes, etc. The vineyards are south-facing and are protected from the north winds. The slopes are well exposed to the sun. The estate’s vineyards are all harvested by hand when the grapes achieve optimal maturity.
Vinification takes place in traditional, open-topped concrete tanks following two days of skin contact at cool temperatures. Maceration continues at controlled temperatures between 82°F and 86°F (28°C and 30°C). Cap punching and pumping over take place daily for about 10 days. The total fermentation/maceration period is about 20 days. After devatting and pressing the skins, maturation is done in French oak barrels. On each vintage, the notes of wood are the result of precise and variable proportion between new barrels and barrels which have already held one wine, and it is adapted according to each vintage tannic and tasting characteristics.
2016 was a brilliant vintage. The winter was mild but morphed into an unusually cool spring, which made for a delayed budburst and flowering. Hail in April damaged some of the crop in Hermitage, meaning yields are reduced – great quality and less alcohol than 2015.
The wine has a brilliant, deep red hue. The nose is powerful and complex, expressing blackberries, spices and leather. On the palate the wine is firm but silky, with a tightly-knit tannic structure that is the hallmark of wines that have a good future
Pair this wine with rare or medium-cooked games, marinated meats and spicy stews. We recommend opening this bottle between one and three hours before drinking.
Vinous Media
94 POINTS
September 2019, Josh Raynolds
“Dark violet. Highly perfumed aromas of cherry liqueur, black currant and smoky minerals are backed by a vibrant floral note. Gently sweet and expansive on the palate, offering energetic blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show excellent concentration and thrust. Taut, focused and penetrating on the strikingly persistent, smoke-tinged finish, with dusty tannins providing shape. Don’t plan on opening this one for a while.”
Wine Enthusiast
92 POINTS
July 1, 2019, Anna Lee C. Iijima
“Whispers of smoke, char and anise accent plump black-cherry and berry flavors in this creamy, big-shouldered Syrah. It’s forward and freshly fruited but still maintains an earthy, granitic edge that anchors it firmly to Hermitage. The finish lingers on pretty notes of violet candy and spice.”
Wine Spectator
93 POINTS
February 20, 2019, James Molesworth
“Solidly built, with juicy and engaging raspberry, red currant and blackberry fruit flavors spreading out from the core, picking up anise, incense, mineral and floral accents along the way. The structure is fine-grained, with fresh acidity lingering nicely. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
Wine & Spirits
92 POINTS
February 2019
“Sourced mainly from Les Bessards, with a portion from Les Grandes Vignes at the very top of the Hermitage hill, this pulls a lot of its initial richness from oak, notes of smoky bacon, vanilla and graham crackers making it an instant crowd-pleaser. Give it a few hours and it reveals what may be clearer with age: notes of leather, licorice root and spice, as well as a tart red-cherry flavor that keeps the wine feeling fresh. Drink it now with something meaty, like sauerbraten, or age it to let the oak influence mellow.”
Jeb Dunnuck
93 POINTS
December 20, 2018, Jeb Dunnuck
“Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, the 2016 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes comes from a mix of the Bessards, Gréffieux, Méal, Rocoules, and Beaumes lieux-dits. It reveals a ruby/purple color as well as classic notes of black currants, toasted spices, dried earth, and violets. It’s rounded, medium to full-bodied, mouthfilling, and incredibly elegant on the palate, with building yet polished tannins. It already possesses plenty of upfront charm and I suspect will continue drinking nicely for another two decades. It’s a solid example of the 2016 vintage.”
The Wine Advocate
91 POINTS
October 31, 2018, Joe Czerwinski
“The 2016 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is a beefy, bloody, red-fruited wine. Marked by scents of grilled meat and raspberries, it’s medium to full-bodied, with supple tannins and a smooth, suave mouthfeel. Hints of clove and orange zest keep the finish lively and fresh.”
JamesSuckling.com
93-94 POINTS
August 29, 2018, James Suckling
“Dark plums, mocha and intense, stony, graphite-like mineral accents with a strong serving of mocha-scented oak. The palate is built on silky tannins, very bright, red plums and a supple, velvety slide to the finish. Barrel sample.”
Hermitage AOC, France
Cork
Yes
Yes
