Delas : Domaine des Tourettes 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine des Tourettes 2021 from Delas

Tasting

Appearance

This wine reveals a deep garnet hue with purple highlights, reflecting the wine's concentration and the vintage's ripening conditions.

Nose

The nose is particularly aromatic with marked mineral accents evoking gunflint and ink, characteristic of the granite terroir. After aeration, the bouquet is enriched with generous notes of candied black fruit, notably blackberries and blackcurrants, accompanied by floral nuances of violet, licorice and subtle touches of olive and spices.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unfolds intense flavors of cherry, blueberry and fruitcake, lifted by a peppery touch. Notes of leather and tobacco complete the aromatic palette. The tannic structure is powerful yet refined, and perfectly integrated. The balance between the concentrated fruit, the mineral freshness and the elegant tannins lends the wine a beautiful harmony. The finish persists at length on aromas of black fruit, spices and minerality.

Food and wine pairings

This Domaine des Tourettes 2021 is the ideal accompaniment for a rack of lamb, a wild boar stew, a beef fillet with pepper sauce or grilled vegetables. Its structure and mineral complexity also pair well with truffle or mushroom-based dishes.

Service and cellaring

Domaine des Tourettes 2021 can be appreciated from 2025 and possesses a cellaring potential until around 2040.

An authentic Hermitage from the granite terroirs of the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1835 in Tournon-sur-Rhône, Maison Delas Frères has established itself today as one of the major producers of the Northern Rhône Valley. Owned by the Louis Roederer group since 1993, Delas Frères has transformed from a *négociant* house into a recognized estate producer. With around thirty hectares of vines owned, including ten hectares on the Hermitage hill, the house strives to express its terroirs as accurately as possible thanks to exacting plot-by-plot vinification.

The vineyard

Domaine des Tourettes comes from plots located on the slopes of Hermitage, notably in the *lieux-dits* L'Ermite, Le Sabot and Les Bessards. The terroir is characterized by complex granite soils mixing granite, alluvial deposits and Pliocene marl. The vines benefit from a full south exposure and protection against northern winds, guaranteeing optimal ripening conditions. This diversity of soils lends the wine its complexity and distinctive mineral character.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved particularly demanding in the Northern Rhône Valley, with cooler temperatures and less generous sunshine than during the previous great years. Despite these delicate climatic conditions, the quality of the harvested grapes allowed for the elaboration of elegant wines expressing the character of the terroir with finesse.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Domaine des Tourettes 2021 are harvested manually then fully destemmed. Winemaking takes place in traditional open concrete vats after a two-day cold pre-fermentation maceration. Fermentation is carried out at a controlled temperature between 28°C and 30°C with daily punch-downs for about ten days. The total maceration extends over twenty days. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months, including about twenty-five percent new oak, followed by two months in stainless steel vats to harmonize the blend before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Syrah