Lucien Michel | September 8, 2020
The Monumental 2015 Hermitage Bessards
Domaine Delas Frères is a well-respected and traditional Northern Rhône estate that has been with the same family for more than 180 years. It is an estate that I have long appreciated and admired.
Delas has invested in restoring the Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie appellations – financing the renovation of century-old walled vineyards, and keeping their wines traditional in a region where modernity can sometimes rhyme with absurdity.
Far from being rustic, the wines crafted by this estate display bright fruits and impress with their balance. Somewhat Burgundian, the summit of their single vineyards is for me the Hermitage Bessards. Located in the heart of Hermitage, these are incredibly deep wines with layers and layers of fruits, herbs, spices and minerals. With their incredible structure, these are wines for the cellar to best show their finesse after a few years. 2015 was an acclaimed vintage in the Northern Rhone and Delas’s Hermitage Bessards 2015 is a monumental wine.
Despite having received the highest reviews from acclaimed critics, Delas is a Domaine that is sometimes overlooked. But if you like Rhône Syrah and are patient, don’t look elsewhere.
This is for me the epitome of tradition, and it offers such value today, quantities are limited so please act quickly.
