Les Bessards
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 10–30 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, venison stew, or prime rib.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Delas Frères' Hermitage 'Les Bessards' is a monumental expression of Northern Rhône Syrah, sourced entirely from the legendary, steep granite slopes of the Les Bessards climat on the Hermitage hill. This specific hillside, with its highly decomposed granite soils, is widely regarded as the spiritual heart of the appellation, producing wines of immense structure, power, and longevity. Historically, the Hermitage hill has been revered since Roman times, with legends attributing its name to the 13th-century knight Gaspard de Stérimberg, who returned wounded from the Albigensian Crusade to live as a hermit. Delas crafts this cuvée only in exceptional vintages, utilizing traditional fermentation in open concrete vats followed by meticulous aging in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is deeply concentrated, characterized by dark blackberry fruit, cracked black pepper, smoky granite minerality, and muscular tannins that demand patience.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1835 by Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas in the heart of the Rhône Valley, Delas Frères is a historic house renowned for its masterful expression of Northern and Southern Rhône terroirs. Now under the ownership of the Champagne Louis Roederer group, the estate combines traditional craftsmanship with modern precision, highlighted by their state-of-the-art winery in Tain-l'Hermitage. Delas is celebrated for its exceptional, terroir-driven wines, particularly its iconic Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Condrieu cuvées, including acclaimed single-vineyard expressions like Clos Boucher and La Landonne.