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Ratings & Reviews
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape RougeWine Advocate - Robert Parker - November 2008Rating: 92-94 points "It reveals a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a gorgeous nose of black fruits, spring flowers, licorice, incense, lavender, and grilled Provencal herbs. Dense, full-bodied, flamboyant, and chewy, with that terrific freshness and purity that characterize this great vintage in the south, it should drink well for 12-15+ years."
2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape RougeWine Advocate - Robert Parker - October 2008Rating: 90-92 points "The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is the finest wine produced by Grange since he began working at Delas when it was acquired by the Louis Roederer-Deutz Champagne firm. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a sumptuous bouquet of black fruits, kirsch liqueur, incense, licorice, pepper, and spice, a superb texture, beautiful freshness, and a long finish."
2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape RougeWine Spectator - James Molesworth - June 15, 2008Rating: 92 points "Shows some funk on the nose, but there’s a solid core of ripe, pure blackberry and black currant fruit, with sweet spice, tar and warm licorice notes. Long, well-rounded finish. Drink now through 2023."
Rating: 90-92 Points "...[T]he 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Haute Pierre boasts a deep, dark ruby/plum hue, full-bodied, powerful flavors (black fruits, pepper, earth, and spice), beautiful purity, admirable intensity, moderate tannin, and a textured, savory mouthfeel. Consume it over the next 10-15 years."
2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape RougeWine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 89 Points "Shows the heat of the vintage, with very ripe plum and fig compote aromas and flavors. Has solid minerality and stony persistence, yet a hint of raisin frames the finish. Drink now through 2017."
2003 Condrieu 'Clos Boucher'International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2007Rating: 92 Points "Light gold. Suave, floral bouquet of orange, peach, jasmine and violet. Quite fine and delineated, with brisk mineral and citrus zest flavors joined by a late-arriving note of floral honey. The bright finish features a strong, lingering mineral tone. This vineyard sits next to Chateau Grillet."
2006 Condrieu 'La Galopine'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 89 points "The basic cuvee of Condrieu, the 2006 and 2007 Condrieu La Galopine both offer notes of flowers, peaches, apricots, and lychee nuts. The 2006 exhibits more minerality and depth..."
Rating: 91 Points "Bright, with a juicy texture carrying tasty notes of persimmon, apricot, white peach and anise. Nice mouthwatering finish has a hint of fennel seed. Drink now through 2010."
Rating: 90 Points "Pale yellow. Seductive, floral bouquet of fresh citrus and pear aromas enlivened by dusty minerals. Brisk lemon and orchard fruit flavors are surprisingly weighty but finish with impressive mineral snap. An excellent example of the clean, racy school of Condrieu, with zero oak adornment."
2005 Condrieu 'La Galopine'Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 90 Points "Shows delightful peach, anise, starfruit and mineral flavors, with the minerality stretching out the long, pure finish. Not big, but precise and balanced. Drink now through 2008."
2004 Condrieu 'La Galopine'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2006Rating: 90 Points "The 2004 Condrieu La Galopine displays obvious aromas of honeysuckle and tropical fruits in its big-bodied, but elegant personality."
2006 Côte-Rôtie 'La Landonne'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 95 points "The compelling 2006 Cote Rotie La Landonne is sensational. Gamy black cherry and black currant fruit interwoven with notions of graphite, licorice, and scorched earth aromas jump from the glass of this dense, full-bodied, rich, pure 2006. This is a stunning wine with terrific minerality as well as laser-like focus."
Rating: 92-94 Points "Deep ruby. Strong spiced cherry and dark berry aromas lifted by a potent cracked pepper quality. Very fresh, spicy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors are joined on the back by exotic floral pastilles and tangy minerality. Extremely graceful wine."
Rating: 94-97 Points "Inky ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of vibrant, spice-accented cherry and dark berries. Deep, powerful blackberry and cassis flavors are supported by tangy acidity and strong tannic structure. Very chewy on the palate-staining finish, which shows almost painful concentration right now. "This is all potential," notes winemaker Jacques Grange."
Rating: “The Landonne is from a minuscule 1.2-acre parcel that includes some 80-year-old vines. It's a textbook La Landonne, with sanguine and iron notes backed by layers of opulent currant and fig fruit. Long, dark, very muscular finish with formidable tannins, it should be expansive with time.”
2005 Côte-Rôtie 'La Landonne'Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2008Rating: 95 points "Densely layered, with nearly exotic fig, plum sauce, mocha, incense and black licorice notes. Has a dense core that will need to wait for the formidable structure to resolve itself. A powerful rendition of Côte-Rôtie. Best from 2010 through 2028."
Rating: 92(+?) Points "Opaque ruby. Powerfully scented aromas of red berry, kirsch, flowers and incense. Stains the palate with deep, sweet dark berry preserve flavors, becoming more tannic with air. Shuts down on the finish but there's more than a glimpse of suave, compellingly sweet dark fruit here. But it's an inscrutable black hole today, and in need of cellaring."
Rating: 94-96 points "A 40-year wine is the 2005 Cote Rotie La Landonne. The wine is dense purple in color to the rim with a strikingly perfumed nose of blackberries, espresso roast, charcoal, and black raspberry and cassis. Striking minerality and graphite notes underlie this formidably endowed, rich, powerful wine that needs a good decade of cellaring. It should last for half a century."
2004 Côte-Rôtie 'La Landonne'Wine & Spirits - Tara Q. Thomas - February 2008Rating: 90 Points "From a small parcel of 100 percent syrah, this is opulent Côte Rôtie, dense and black with spice and a ferrous, almost feral minerality. The tannic grip cuts the flavors short; give it another five years to relax and lengthen into its size."
Rating: 93 Points "Pure and defined, with a range of aromas and flavors thats impressive for the vintage--coffee, olive, white pepper, tobacco, blackberry and currant fruit. The long finish shows nice flesh and minerality and really blossoms with air. A wine whose breed shines through the vintage. Drink now through 2012."
Rating: 94 points "A brilliant cuvee that gets aged 36 months in 100% new oak barrels...is the Cote Rotie La Landonne. The 2004 Cote Rotie La Landonne possesses scorched earth, roasted meats, smoked herbs, licorice, and sweet black raspberry and cassis flavors that jump from the glass of this deep, full-bodied Cote Rotie. The wine is rich, has good acidity, hints of black olive in the mouth, and a long, heady finish. It is approachable now but promises to be better in 3-4 years and last for 15 or more."
Rating: 92 Points "Medium red. Pungent violet- and lavender-accented raspberry and redcurrant aromas. Then deep and rich on the palate, with concentrated, pure cherry and blackberry flavors and a good dose of graphite and black olive. Rich for sure, but with impressive energy and focus too. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity and excellent length."
2003 Côte-Rôtie 'La Landonne'Wine Spectator - J.M - May 15, 2006Rating: 96 Points "Extremely dark, with blackberry and fig fruit, but remarkably lush and pure, with mineral, coffee and mocha notes gliding along as well. All the exotic fruit notes then reverberate through the finish, where the minerality provides a suave backdrop. Drink now through 2020."
Rating: 96 Points "The blockbuster 2003 Cote Rotie La Landonne is a wine for the ages. Its dense purple hue is followed by gorgeous aromas of graphite, scorched earth, bacon fat, blackberries, blueberries, figs, and espresso roast. Deep, full-bodied, tannic, and backward, it will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age, and should last for two decades."
Rating: 91 Points "Light ruby color. High-pitched, intensely floral nose offers mineral-laden scents of tangy red berries, fruity black pepper, cherry cola and licorice pastille. Chewy and firm, with vibrant red and dark berry tones on the palate. Quite fresh for the year but also boasts serious concentration and power. Finishes dusty, floral and long, with excellent thrust."
1998 Côte-Rôtie 'La Landonne'Wine Spectator - P.M. - August 31, 2001Rating: 94 Points "Rich, silky, thick, complex and full-bodied. Smoke, grilled wood, black fruit, truffles, floral, cassis notes. Opulent from start to long finish. Exciting '98 from Delas. Drink now through 2015."
1999 Côte-Rôtie La LandonneWine Spectator - P.M. - December 15, 2002Rating: 94 Points "Very exotic wine, with incense, chestnut, smoke, black currant, iron and wet earth. Most impressive is the soft and supple texture, the full-bodied opulence and the sheer balance. Great freshness on the long, but woody and chewy, finish."
2006 Côte-Rôtie Seigneur de MaugironWine Spectator Insider - James Molesworth - June 10, 2009Rating: 92 points "Muscular for the vintage, with dark cherry, fig and currant notes mingling with plenty of iron, cocoa and braised olive hints. The long, briar-tinged finish has excellent grip."
Rating: 90+ points "...Exhibits moderately high tannins along with notes of cassis, raspberries, incense, and new barrique smells, robust tannins, and a closed personality. This wine needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age for 15 years."
Rating: 90-93 Points "Inky ruby. Fresh red berries, smoky bacon and baking spices on the nose. Zesty raspberry and cherry flavors are firmed by youthful tannins, with impressively vibrant minerality adding lift and freshness to the finish."
2004 Côte-Rôtie Seigneur de MaugironWine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 89 Points "Supple and focused, with alluring black cherry and currant fruit intertwined with mocha, sanguine and iron notes. The finish is long and fine-grained. Has nice length and depth for the vintage. Drink now through 2011. 925 cases made."
Rating: 89 Points "Deep red. Mineral-accented red berry and cherry aromas are clean and bright. Quite stony on the palate, with vibrant redcurrant and spicy cherry flavors and a deep espresso note on the back. This silky-smooth, sweet wine finishes long and elegant, with very fine tannins. You could drink this now."
2003 Côte-Rôtie Seigneur de MaugironThe Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2006Rating: 93 Points "Made from 100% Syrah, the 2003 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron (90% from the Cote Brune) was aged in small barrels of which 30% were new. It offers up wonderful scents of bacon fat, charcoal, spring flowers, plums, blackberries, and cherries. Sweet and medium to full-bodied with surprisingly fine acidity, a rich mid-palate and depth, and a heady, concentrated finish, this silky 2003 can be enjoyed now and over the next 12-13 years."
2007 Côtes-du-Rhône 'St. Esprit' RougeBoston Globe - Stephen Meuse - March 25, 2009Rating: "If you need something a little heftier, you might opt for this juicy, syrah-enhanced CDR. Emphatically bright, persistent sour-cherry fruit, an appetizing package, and some structure to boot."
Rating: 90 points "The amazing 2007 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit...reveals a northern Rhone orientation, but it is loaded with spice and black fruits, and displays a beautiful opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity."
2006 Côtes-du-Rhône 'St. Esprit' RougeWine Advocate - Robert Parker - October 2008Rating: 88 points "A turn-around effort, the 2006 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with plenty of spice, pepper, and black fruit characteristics. ...[The] Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit ranks alongside the offerings from Guigal and Chapoutier."
Rating: A Great Rhône Valley Value "A blend of Syrah with small percentages of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignane, this red from a small vineyard in the value-focused Ardèche region is loaded with juicy raspberry and wild strawberry fruit."
2003 Côtes-du-Rhône 'St. Esprit' RougeWine & Spirits - June 2006Rating: A Good Value "Herbal, tart cherry and earth flavors make this rustic, country red a good choice with a hearty mushroom soup."
2007 Côtes-du-VentouxWine Spectator - James Molesworth - June 15, 2009Rating: 89 points, Spectator Selection: Best Value "This red shows the dark, ripe, lush fruit of the vintage, with fig, plum and blackberry aromas and flavors tumbling over a solid graphite underpinning. The long, velvety finish holds your interest."
2003 Côtes-du-VentouxWine Enthusiast - December 2004Rating: 88 Points - A Best Buy Shows uncommon depth and intensity for a humble Cotes du Ventoux. Bold scents of black cherries, blackberries and earth rise from the glass. There's plenty of richness on the palate, even some slightly rustic tannins to help rein in all that fruit. Notes of licorice, tar and earth on the finish make it more than a simple fruit bomb.
2007 Crozes Hermitage 'Domaine des Grands Chemins'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 88-90 points "The 2007 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins is a softer, more easy-going, concentrated, sensual wine revealing velvety tannins as well as heady fruit."
2007 Crozes Hermitage 'Le Clos'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 90-92 points "The 2007 Crozes-Hermitage Les Clos possesses elegant blackberry and black cherry fruit, a hint of brined olives, high acidity, and soft tannin."
2006 Crozes Hermitage 'Le Clos'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 92 points "The stunning, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Les Clos exhibits smoky, roasted meat, garrigue, blackberry, cassis, new saddle leather, and charcoal aromas, sweet tannins, full-bodied power, and reserves of concentration and fruit. Consume it over the next decade. This cuvee has become one of the top three or four wines of the appellation."
Rating: 89 Points "Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well."
2005 Crozes Hermitage 'Le Clos'Wine Spectator Online - James Molesworth - January 28, 2008Rating: 91 Points "Offers a structured mix of black cherry, briar, iron, coffee and loam notes, with a long, iron-tinged finish. Has nice length and good tangy grip. Drink now through 2011."
Rating: 92 Points "Inky ruby. Bright red berry and cherry aromas are enlivened by brisk minerals and fresh flowers. Spicy raspberry and cherry on the palate, picking up tangy minerals with aeration. This very pure wine shows a Burgundian elegance, and finishes with excellent persistence and sweetness."
Rating: 89-91 points "The 2005 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos has a dense purple color, tart acid levels, hints of road tar, black cherry, raspberry, and currant....Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018."
Rating: 89-92 Points "Opaque ruby. Intensely spicy aromas of red- and blackcurrant underpinned by tangy graphite and iron notes. Very fresh and bright, with energetic cherry and cassis flavors, good acid lift and fine, dusty tannins. Builds and gains in sweetness on the focused, persistent finish."
2007 Crozes Hermitage 'Les Launes' RougeWine Spectator - James Molesworth - July 31, 2009Rating: 90 points "Round and fleshy, with a delicious core of red currant, red licorice and crushed plum fruit backed by hints of fruitcake and mineral on the lively finish."
2005 Crozes Hermitage 'Les Launes' RougeWine & Spirits - February 2008Rating: 88 points "Simple, straightforward syrah, this is juicy and fresh, with violet-scented plum fruit and a velvet texture."
Rating: 87-88 points "The 2005 Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes offers tart acidity, high tannins, but more concentration as well as underbrush, mineral elements, and sweet and sour cherry fruit."
2004 Crozes Hermitage 'Les Launes' RougeWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2007Rating: 87 points "One of the more attractive bargains in the portfolio is the 2004 Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes. The wine reveals plenty of berry fruit as well as some pepper, herbs, and spice. It is a wine to drink over its first 4-5 years of life."
Rating: 86 Points Recommended
2003 Crozes Hermitage 'Les Launes' RougeWine Spectator - J.M. - May 15, 2006Rating: 89 Points "Has a chunky feel, with black cherry, currant and tobacco flavors. Smoke and mineral notes chime in on the finish, which shows fresh acidity and another wave of fruit. Drink now through 2011."
2007 Crozes Hermitage Les Launes BlancWine Spectator - James Molesworth - July 31, 2009Rating: 89 points "A creamy style, with inviting macadamia nut, sweetened butter and creamed peach flavors followed by a lingering whiff of grilled hazelnut on the broad finish."
2005 Crozes Hermitage Les Launes BlancWine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 89 Points "Bright, with stone fruit and floral notes followed by melon and toast hints on the finish, which shows nice length and purity. Drink now."
2005 GigondasWine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 28, 2007Rating: 89-92 Points "A strong effort...An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of crushed rocks, black raspberries, sweet cherries, and spice. Medium-bodied and elegant, this cuvee is reminiscent of a fine red Burgundy. It should drink well for a decade."
2007 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 91-93 points "The 2007 Hermitage Les Bessards is more fruit-forward, offering notes of concentrated black cherry and cassis fruit intermixed with licorice, truffle, earth, and pain grille characteristics. Deep, rich, softer, and more fruit-forward in a seductive, opulent style, this beauty should have 20-25 years of longevity."
2006 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 97 points "The limited production blockbuster 2006 Hermitage Les Bessards is exquisite. Opaque inky/purple-colored with a stunning perfume of white chocolate, creme de cassis, incense, and camphor, this 2006 possesses fabulous fruit, full-bodied power, awesome concentration, and sweet, noble tannins. A classic in the making..."
Rating: 92-94 Points "Glass-staining purple. Pungent blackberry and spiced plum aromas are brightened by zesty minerals and fresh violet. Lush and deeply concentrated but impressively lively, with energetic raspberry and blackcurrant flavors joined by vibrant minerality on the close. A strikingly precise, flavor-packed wine that smoothly joins power with elegance."
2005 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2008Rating: 93(+?) Points "Opaque ruby. Fresh cherry and boysenberry on the nose, with seductive floral and mineral qualities adding complexity. Becomes more pungent with air, picking up tobacco, spicecake and dried violet scents. Juicy dark fruit flavors spread across the palate, ending with good mineral snap. This is very intriguing, as well as quite young."
Rating: 94-96 points "The 2005 Hermitage Les Bessards is a brilliant, brilliant wine. Opaque bluish purple to the rim with a nose of graphite, spring flowers, creme de cassis, and blueberry, the wine is super-rich, full-bodied, with frightening levels of concentration as well as tannin and good acidity. This is a long-term prospect...This is a wine that will last 50-60+ years, and not be approachable for at least a decade, and that may be optimistic. Nevertheless, this is extraordinary stuff for those with 19th century palates."
Rating: 94-97 Points "Inky ruby. Powerful, pungent cassis, blackberry and graphite aromas. Huge, deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors completely absorb the tannins, giving this an almost liqueur-like impression. The fruit actually builds on the remarkably powerful, sweet finish, taking a darker turn to mulberry and boysenberry. An Hermitage with outstanding clarity and length."
Rating: “…sourced from 70-year-old vines, with its gorgeous aromas and flavors of warm chocolate ganache, bacon, mocha and roasted coffee.”
2004 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 92 Points "Muscular but well-balanced, with spice and cocoa aromas giving way to red licorice, currant, fig, truffle and mineral notes. The long, fine-grained finish shows persistence. Drink now through 2014."
Rating: 94 points "The top cuvee of the house...is the Hermitage Les Bessards, only made in the best vintages. The 2004 Hermitage Les Bessards has dense ruby/purple color and a beautifully sweet nose of creme de cassis, underbrush, mineral, and subtle oak. The tannins are relatively supple, but the wine is rich, full-bodied, and atypically thick and intense for a 2004. This is a beauty and reminiscent of Chave’s brilliant 2004 red Hermitage, combining both power and elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030."
Rating: 94 Points "Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass."
Rating: 91-93 Points "The excellent 2004 Hermitage Les Bessards displays more blackberry and mineral notes along with the tell-tale creme de cassis, smoke, and licorice. This superb effort is clearly the finest wine in Delas’ 2004 portfolio. Give it 2-4 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 15-16 years."
Rating: 93 Points "The Bessards vineyard is right at the heart of the Hermitage hill. Delas only makes this wine in top years (no 2002, for example), and the quality shows in the aromas of black fruits and violets, the flavors of huge dense fruit and powerful tannins. This is serious wine, which promises at least 10 years of aging."
Rating: 94 Points "Dark red. Knockout multidimensional nose is at once pungent and refined, offering notes of redcurrant, wild strawberry, woodsmoke, gunflint, molasses and minerals. Wonderfully suave and elegant but also amazingly penetrating and gripping, with sharply etched flavors of redcurrant and minerals and strong, peppery soil tones. This wine clings so stubbornly to the palate that it's literally hard to spit. A young Hermitage of great class and complexity."
2003 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'Wine Enthusiast Magazine - J.C. - November 15, 2006Rating: 95 Points “Incredibly rich, velvety-textured and long, this is a great example of Hermitage from a superripe vintage. It’s dense like fruitcake without being excessively heavy, and boast such a panopoly of nuance as to be spell binding, ranging from spice and herbs to black olive and espresso. Wow! Drink now - 2025.”
Rating: 97 Points "Tremendous depth of fruit right from the start, with layers of freshly crushed blackberry, fig paste and currant confiture, all carried by seamless, fine-grained tannins while truffle and cocoa notes fill out the background. Enthralling finish is strenched out by underlying minerality and exotic spice notes, but still remains firmly planted in its terroir."
Rating: 96 Points "The luxury cuvee, the inky/blue/purple-hued 2003 Hermitage Les Bessards exhibits a huge perfume of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and scorched earth. With superb richness, magnificent intensity, and a full-bodied, tannic finish, it will benefit from 5-10 years of cellaring, and should age for 30+ years."
Rating: 92 - 96 Points "Saturated ruby. Roasted black fruits, gunflint, minerals and a whiff of meat on the nose: very Bessards. Dense, silky and suave, with great depth of chocolaty black fruit. As large as this is, it's not at all heavy. In fact, this shows superb mineral lift in the mouth and explosive length. Fabulous fine-grained tannins coat the entire palate."
Rating: 95 Points, "Incredibly rich, velvety-textured and long, this is a great example of Hermitage from a superripe vintage. Dense but not excessively heavy, with a panopoly of nuance ranging from spice and herb to black olive and espresso. Wow!"
1999 Hermitage 'Les Bessards'Wine Enthusiast - 2002Rating: 94 Points
2007 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 90 points "Lighter-styled, but fruity and full-bodied, the 2007 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette blanc offers up notions of smoke, white peaches, and honeysuckle."
2006 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 93 points "Hazelnut, caramelized white fruit, and quince aromas soar from the glass of the 2006 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette blanc. This elegant, oily, unctuously-textured offering is a classic white Hermitage."
Rating: 93 Points "Lush and forward, with apricot, pear and fig notes backed by an alluring hint of grilled hazelnut. Long, juicy finish. Very alluring style. Drink now through 2013."
2005 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2007Rating: 92 points "The 2005 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette blanc (100% Marsanne that is barrel-fermented and aged in new oak) offers terrific fruit along with hints of white peach, marzipan, and hazelnut in a full-bodied, opulent, dense style, but is deceptively buttressed by considerable acidity, and not showing any oak whatsoever."
2004 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancThe Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2006Rating: 93 Points "The 2004 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette blanc is brilliant. It offers gorgeous aromas of rose water, hazelnuts, smoke, and unctuous, buttery citrus as well as honeysuckle. Except for its floral component, this stunning white Hermitage tastes like a top-notch Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. Delas also does a superb job with Condrieu, and 2004 is an excellent vintage for this tiny appellation."
2003 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancWine Spectator - J.M. - May 15, 2006Rating: 93 Points "Lots of up-front butter, almond cream and pear aromas and flavors, with a creamy texture that just sails along. Long fruit-and-butter-filled finish."
Rating: 90 Points "Bright green-tinged yellow. Aromas of crystallized yellow fruits, honeysuckle and fresh herbs, with a whiff of banana. Fat, dense and suave; very ripe and thick but quite dry. Seamless, high-alcohol wine with finishing flavors of honeycomb and damp earth."
Rating: 93 Points "Delas Freres’ white wine cuvees have improved immensely under the administration of Jacques Granges. The 2003 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette blanc (100% Marsanne) displays a slight greenish hue to its oily, light gold color. With surprisingly good acidity as well as fabulous fruit (reminiscent of almond paste), buttered popcorn, honeysuckle, and citrus oil, this deep, full-bodied, fleshy Hermitage provides a tasty mouthful of dry white wine. It should drink well young, close down around age 4-5, and re-emerge at age 10-15."
2002 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' BlancInternational Wine Cellar - Steve Tanzer - February 2005Rating: 91 Points "Full yellow. Very fresh aromas of peach, lemon, fresh herbs and minerals. Juicy, lemony and brisk, with sharply delineated flavors. Much more minerally than the 2003. Finishes long, sappy and brisk, with lovely cut and repeating citrus and mineral flavors."
2007 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 90-92 points "The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette offers notes of smoked herbs, red and black fruits, medium to full body, sweet tannins, and a more sensual personality. It is an up-front, fruit-driven effort that should provide easy-going drinking over the next 15 years."
2006 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeWine Spectator Insider - James Molesworth - June 10, 2009Rating: 92 points "Silky and alluring, with lovely mocha and espresso aromatics followed by lush black cherry, fig paste and crushed currant notes. Fleshy and pure on the finish, with solid underlying minerality."
Rating: 94 points "Its dense purple color is accompanied by notes of pen ink, graphite, creme de cassis, licorice, and scorched earth. Full-bodied and deep, with good acidity, superb concentration and purity as well as high tannins, this excellent Hermitage should be at its best between 2015-2035."
Rating: 91-93 Points "Inky purple. Strong floral and cherry scents are complicated by cured meat and smoky minerals. Tightly wound red fruit flavors show excellent depth and clarity, with slow-building sweetness. Very elegant if painfully young Hermitage, finishing with impressive cut and length."
2005 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeWine Spectator - James Molesworth - January 30, 2008Rating: 93 Points "Sleek and tightly grained, with a very racy core of blackberry and boysenberry fruit covered with sweet spice, fruitcake and mocha notes, all backed by a long, mineral- and graphite-filled finish. Best from 2010 through 2020."
Rating: 90(+?) Points "Ruby-red. Pungent dark berry and kirsch aromas are youthfully brooding, picking up a subtle licorice quality with air. Impressively concentrated but a bit ungiving right now, offering deep, chewy dark berry preserve flavors and serious tannic grip."
Rating: 92-94 points "The dense purple-colored 2005 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette is a powerful and masculine wine with huge volume and a wonderful, sweet nose of blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with crushed rocks as well as a floral component. Excruciatingly tannic but massive in the mouth, this wine will require at least 10-12 years of patience, and last 30-40 years. It is a monster effort, tannic, backward, but impressively full as well as formidably endowed."
Rating: 90-93 Points "Deep ruby. Powerful, deeply concentrated cassis and blackberry aromas complicated by tobacco and espresso notes. Very rich and dense, with sweet, liqueur-like dark berry and cherry flavors and firm but harmonious tannins. Finishes luscious and sweet, with impressive concentration and length."
2004 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeWine & Spirits - February 2008Rating: 89 Points "With air, fleshy blackberry fruit, warm earth and stony minerality emerge from under generous vanilla tones of oak. Give it another three to five years for the fruit and oak to come into balance."
Rating: 91 Points "Tangy, ripe and fresh for the vintage, with juicy layers of raspberry and currant fruit woven with bright mineral, spice and graphite notes. The long, fresh, acidity-driven finish lets this stretch out nicely. Drink now through 2013."
Rating: 91 points "From tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, the 2004 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet nose of forest floor, acacia flowers, creme de cassis, and pepper. It is deep, full-bodied, with beautiful fruit intensity, a lush texture in the mid-palate, but then the tannic structure takes over. This is an undeniable success for the vintage. It should drink well for 15 or more years."
Rating: 91 Points "Deep red. Expansive, fruit-driven and floral on the nose, with rich, spicy cherry and blackberry aromas deepened by tobacco and cracked pepper. Lush and full, with sweet black cherry and cassis flavors lifted by gentle acidity. Smoked meat and licorice notes appear on the long, juicy finish. This is built to age."
2002 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeInternational Wine Cellar - Steve Tanzer - January 2005Rating: 89 Points "Medium red-ruby. Expressive aromas of blackberry, gunflint, pepper and mint. Very suave and lively in the mouth, with well-delineated flavors of raw cassis, pepper and spices. Finishes aromatic and persistent, with lively pepper and spice notes. A very juicy wine that should be flexible at the dinner table."
2001 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeWine Enthusiast - R.V. - February 2005Rating: 90 Points "This is a blend from three of the top Hermitage vineyards: L'Ermite, le Sabot and Les Bessards. It is powerful and rich, with black fruits, spices and leather aromas. To taste, there are barnyard flavors and dense tannins. It will certainly age, probably over 10 years."
2000 Hermitage 'Marquise de la Tourette' RougeThe Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - June 2003Rating: 90 Points "The deep ruby/purple-colored 2000 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette (which includes the declassified Les Bessards) offers up aromas of creme de cassis, creosote, vanilla, and Asian spices. Dense, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this elegant, finesse-styled Hermitage has taken on more weight as the result of the addition of Les Bessards to the blend. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2017."
2003 Hermitage 'Marquise de Tourette' RougeWine Spectator - J.M. - May 15, 2006Rating: 93 Points "Fresh and racy, with lots of red currant and raspberry fruit backed by a strong, minerally spine. Darker toast, spice and fruit notes emerge on the finish, but this stays remarkably fresh and open throughout. Deftly done."
Rating: 89 - 93 Points "Medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, liquer and spearmint; faintly medicinal. Superripe, fat and sweet; a bit porty... undeniably rich, chocolaty and deep, with lurking minerality... Finishes very long, with huge, powerful tannins."
Rating: 92-95 Points "The impressive, deep black/purple-colored 2003 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette (only 40% of the normal crop was produced) offers up a sweet perfume of licorice-infused creme de cassis, minerals, and flowers. With great intensity, full body, and a long, concentrated finish, it needs plenty of time in the bottle despite lower than normal acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020+"
2006 Merlot Vin de PaysWine Spectator - Kim Marcus - December 31, 2008Rating: 86 points, Best Value "Dark plum and chocolate flavors fill this tannic red to the brim, followed by a taut finish."
2007 St. Joseph 'Francois de Tournon'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 89-90 points "The 2007 St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon is also very successful. More fruit-driven than its older sibling, it is a round, generous, sensual effort...Displaying outstanding potential..."
2006 St. Joseph 'Francois de Tournon'Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 90 points "Delas’ St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon is usually a brilliant offering, and the 2006 is no exception. A more textured, bigger, richer effort, it possesses a dense purple color as well as notes of crushed stones, black pepper, blackberries, and currants, and stunning concentration, texture, and length."
Rating: 89-91 Points "Saturated purple. Spicy cherry and dark berry aromas are brightened by zesty minerals and fresh rose. Refreshing flavors of bitter cherry and cassis carry through a taut, linear finish. Nicely elegant and precise."
2004 St. Joseph 'Francois de Tournon'Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - May 15, 2007Rating: 89 Points "Elegant and fresh, with black cherry and plum notes woven with garrigue, mineral and olive notes. The finish is long and fine-grained. Drink now through 2009."
Rating: 89 points "The 2004 St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon has a dark ruby color and notes of damp earth intermixed with sweet cherry, raspberry, and old barriques notes. It is elegant, ripe, with some minerality and a floral note as well as crisp acidity. This seems to build incrementally in the mouth, and has some tannins to shed in the finish. Give this wine 1-2 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 10-15."
Rating: 90 Points "Ruby-red. Fresh, floral aromas of redcurrant and dried cherry underpinned by graphite and violet. Tangy acidity gives a racy quality to the sharply etched flavors of spicy red fruits. This is really easy to drink."
2003 St. Joseph 'Francois de Tournon'Wine Enthusiast Magazine - J.C. - November 15, 2006Rating: 87 Points “Shows layers of rich, dark fruit but still seems a bit tough and ruggedly tannic. Cola, chocolate and black plum provide a very good base, but could use a touch more suppleness and nuance.”
Rating: 91 Points "An outstanding effort, the mineral and floral-scented 2003 St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon’s dense purple color is followed by a beautiful nose of minerals, white flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis, and blackberries. This tannic vin de garde ideally needs 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 10-15."
2001 St. Joseph 'Francois de Tournon'Wine Enthusiast - W.E. - February 2005Rating: 87 Points "An easy-drinking Syrah from the Northern Rhone, this medium-weight wine boasts aromas of horse sweat, black pepper and roasted cherries, backed by flavors of black cherries and dried spices. It's plump and juicy with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now-2010."
Rating: 88 Points "Medium red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, redcurrant, cherry liqueur, gunflint, iron, leather and pepper. Juicy, leanish and pure, with brisk, sharply delineated flavors of red fruits, pepper and spices. Nicely intense, granitic Saint-Joseph with rather light tannins."
2006 St. Joseph 'Les Challeys'International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2008Rating: 89 Points "Medium yellow. Fresh peach and floral honey scents are complicated by exotic Indian spices and dusty minerals. Juicy pit fruit flavors offer impressive depth, with slow-building minerals adding urgency to the finish. Became more floral with air and also picked up zesty citrus flavors, suggesting that this will repay cellaring."
2005 St. Joseph 'Les Challeys'International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2008Rating: 90 Points "Ruby-red. Fresh blackberry and kirsch on the nose, with suave Asian spices and fresh violet adding complexity. Deep, sweet red berry fruit, cherry-vanilla and candied licorice carry through the finish. This is awfully seductive, and delicious right now."
2004 St. Joseph 'Les Challeys'Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - February 12, 2007Rating: 90 Points "Juicy for an '04, with a nice core of plum and blackberry fruit, along with mineral, game and briar notes. Nice flesh on the finish. A new wine for Delas, made from a blend of vineyards up and down the appellation, from Mauves to Annonay. Drink now through 2009."
Rating: 90 Points "Dark red. Deep, rich, brooding aromas of pungent, musky plum and kirsch Firm, well-focused dark fruit flavors shows good depth and sweetness and are nicely framed by gentle, velvety tannins. The creamy finish features a gentle acid lift and impressive length."
2005 St. Joseph 'Les Challeys' BlancInternational Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2007Rating: 89 Points "Green-gold color. Racy, mineral-dominated aromas of zesty citrus and pear skin. Firm, spicy and brisk, with vibrant citrus flavors deepened by a suggestion of anise. Finishes crisp, penetrating and persistent."
2007 St. Joseph St. EpinéWine Spectator Insider - James Molesworth - June 10, 2009Rating: 92 points "Very fresh, with nice underlying drive to the black cherry, black tea, incense and plum sauce notes. The long, iron-tinged finish has more grip than most in the vintage. Really solid."
Rating: 90-92 points "Another stunning effort is the 2007 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine. Dominated by its fruit character (raspberries and cherries), it also reveals some smoked herb and earthy notes in its full-bodied personality. Pure, rich, and well-textured, this superb St.-Joseph should drink well for a decade or more."
2006 St. Joseph St. EpinéWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: 94 points "The flagship offering from St.-Joseph, and one of the three greatest wines of the appellation, is Delas’ 2006 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine. A more long-term effort (2-3 years of cellaring is recommended) with additional tannin, structure, concentration, and depth, it is a wine of great nobility and terroir. The 2006 exhibits plenty of earthy blackberry and sweet black currant fruit along with hints of graphite, licorice, smoked meats, and powdered rocks."
Rating: 90-03 "Inky ruby. Vibrant cherry and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by hot asphalt and licorice, with a sexy floral quality building in the glass. Sweeter and darker on the palate, with deep dark fruit compote flavors, supple tannins and a jolt of zesty minerals on the finish. Reveals excellent vivacity and cut."
2005 St. Joseph St. EpinéInternational Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - January 2008Rating: 91 Points "Bright ruby. Zesty, tightly focused red and dark berry aromas are complicated by dusty minerals and cracked pepper. Fleshy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors gain weight with air but maintain a lively personality, finishing with excellent sweetness and length. No excess fat on this."
Rating: 90-93 points "An outstanding effort is the 2005 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine. Blueberry, acacia flower, crushed rock, and cold steel are aromas that seem to jump from this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Full-bodied, backward, tannic and rich, this wine needs 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 15 or more. It is a very impressive 2005."
Rating: 91-94 Points "Ruby-red. Spicy, mineral-driven red fruit aromas are complicated by tobacco, violet and graphite notes. Peppery, zesty redcurrant and raspberry flavors show good depth and impressive precision. This highly promising wine has a nervy, graphite-driven finish."
2004 St. Joseph St. EpinéWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2007Rating: 90 points "The limited production but exceptional 2004 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine has a deep ruby/purple color and a big, sweet raspberry, cherry, and peppery nose with hints of wet rocks and underbrush. The wine is zesty, rich, with big body and terrific fruit. This is an unqualified success for the vintage, and certainly well worth checking out. It should drink beautifully for 10-12 years."
Rating: 91 Points "Inviting, with crushed plum and currant fruit backed by nice dark cocoa, tobacco and olive notes. Smoky finish shows a nice mineral streak, which is long and tangy. Drink now through 2009."
Rating: 92 Points "Deep ruby. Strong mineral notes accent bright red and dark berry aromas. Lush and sweet, but with impressive acid and mineral lift; picks up a graphite tone to complement the ripe, clean blackberry and cherry flavors. A licorice note adds depth and complexity on the long, sappy finish. I really like this style."
Rating: 92 Points "Bursts with bold pepper and raspberry aromas and flavors, but they're elegant as much as they're potent. Powerful fruit, supple tannins and a long, structured finish make this one of the top Saint-Josephs. Drink now - 2015."
Rating: 89-91 Points "The potentially outstanding 2004 St. Joseph St. Epine possesses crisp black cherry fruit interwoven with road tar, flowers and minerals. It possesses the finest texture and concentration of any of the aforementioned wines as well as the most persistent finish. Drink it over the next decade."
2003 St. Joseph St. EpinéWine Spectator - J.M. - May 15, 2006Rating: 90 Points "Lots of crushed blackberry and plum aromas and flavors, with a ripe, dusty finish."
Rating: 93 Points "St.-Joseph enjoyed a superb vintage in 2003, as evidenced by the 2003 St.-Joseph St.-Epine. Sadly, there are only 2,200 bottles of this amazing wine. Its opaque inky/purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of graphite, blueberries, blackberries, crushed rocks, and flowers. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich as well as elegant and fresh, this huge St.-Joseph needs 2-4 years of bottle age, and should last for 15+."
2001 St. Joseph St. EpinéWine Enthusiast - R.V. - February 2005Rating: 89 Points "With fruit coming from the Saint-Epine vineyard, this wine comes from the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. There is plenty of rich fruit, generous and packed with black plums and sweet jelly fruits. There is acidity and a streak of spicy wood that provides great balance."
Rating: 90 Points "Good red-ruby color. Ripe, brooding aromas of plum, cherry and raspberry complicated by hints of pepper, game and eucalyptus. Sweet but taut in the mouth, with an urgent quality and lovely peppery tang. Very concentrated, vibrant Saint-Joseph with more density and extract than the Francois de Tournon. Finishes with rich, ripe tannins and very good length."
WineryWine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009Rating: "In the late 1990s,...the quality of Delas Freres was soaring, and they are now one of the three top negociant firms in the Rhone Valley. Delas Freres has been the property of Champagne Deutz since 1996, and belongs to the same owners as Champagne Louis Roederer. The owners as well as the Directeur Technique, the brilliant Jacques Grange, and winemaker Jean-Francois Farinet deserve credit for the rise in quality at this operation. The Delas Freres wines continue to go from strength to strength...The current portfolio includes strong 2006s and very good 2007s."
Rating: "This great northern Rhone negociant, spearheaded by their brilliant oenologist and winemaker, Jacques Grange, has consistently made fabulous wines from the northern appellations, but only recently upgraded the quality of their southern Rhone selections. These are the finest southern Rhones they make, and their Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit ranks alongside the offerings from Guigal and Chapoutier."
Rating: "At Delas, [Winemaker] Jacques Granges deftly maintained the house style of silky textures and alluring spice notes. His wines make a great contrast with the gutsy, burly reds from Marc Sorrel. Sorrel, 58, took over his family's small (10 acres) estate after his father, Henri, passed away in 1984."
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