Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Delas Freres' Ligne de Crete is a prestigious, limited-production Saint-Joseph red wine sourced from the steep, granite-rich slopes of the Les Grandes Vignes lieu-dit in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Perched at the very top of the hillside where the vines meet the sky, the name Ligne de Crete translates to crest line, referencing this dramatic topographical boundary. The vines struggle in thin, decomposed granite soils under the influence of the cooling Mistral wind, yielding fruit of incredible concentration and mineral tension. Crafted only in top-performing vintages, this wine undergoes meticulous plot-by-plot vinification and aging in French oak barrels, resulting in a profound expression of Northern Rhone Syrah that balances dark fruit purity with savory, stony complexity.
🍾 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.