Sainte Epine Rouge
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, with top vintages capable of aging gracefully for two decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, grilled ribeye steak, wild venison
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from one of the most iconic and historic lieux-dits in the Saint-Joseph appellation, the Delas 'Sainte-Épine' Rouge is a masterclass in Northern Rhône Syrah. The vineyard of Sainte-Épine, situated on steep, south-facing granite terraces in the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, derives its name from local lore surrounding a relic of the Holy Thorn. This exceptional terroir, with its ancient granite soils and intense solar exposure, yields a wine of remarkable concentration and minerality. Delas crafts this cuvée using traditional methods, including hand-harvesting, fermentation in open concrete vats, and careful aging in French oak barrels. The result is a deeply structured, aromatic red that beautifully balances dark fruit, cracked black pepper, and smoky granite notes, capturing the wild, noble spirit of the historical Saint-Joseph slopes.
🍾 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.