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2017 Delas Freres St. Joseph Francois de Tournon

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Latest Sale Price

November 30, 2025 - $36

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RATINGS

93Vinous / IWC

Deep-pitched black and blue fruit, licorice and pungent floral qualities on the powerfully scented nose. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, cassis and salty olive flavors that become more lively and turn sweeter on the back half. Smoothly blends power and energy and finishes long and spicy, with a hint of smokiness and slowly mounting tannins.

93-95Jeb Dunnuck

...has rocking notes of crème de cassis and crushed blackberries to go with obvious minerality, violets, and earthy notes. Deep, rounded, and opulent on the palate, it has remarkable purity of fruit, fine tannins, and considerable charm.

92James Suckling

Quite a complex nose with a fresh, spicy, red and dark-fruit edge with pepper and graphite. The palate has some bite and cut in the tannin department and a smooth, brambly finish.

92Wine Enthusiast

A kiss of char accents shades of vanilla and nutmeg in this medium-bodied Syrah matured predominantly in one- to three-year-old oak. Black cherry and cassis flavors are zesty and spry, lifted by a pristine mineral edge and firm, lingering tannins.

91The Wine Advocate

...armloads of dark fruit and black olives alongside hints of mocha and graham crackers...full-bodied effort is silky and elegant from start to finish.

91Wine Spectator

Juicy dark cherry and black currant fruit is mixed with anise, apple wood and pepper notes. Reveals a light brambly echo through the finish.

16.5Jancis Robinson

A kiss of char accents shades of vanilla and nutmeg in this medium-bodied Syrah matured predominantly in one- to three-year-old oak. Black cherry and cassis flavors are zesty and spry, lifted by a pristine mineral edge and firm, lingering tannins.

PRODUCER

Delas Freres

Delas Freres was founded in the 19th century in the northern Cotes du Rhone, in France’s Rhone Valley. In 1977 the estate was purchased by Champagne Deutz, which was itself purchased in 1993 by Louis Roederer. Today the estate makes a wide range of wines from the northern and southern parts of the Rhone Valley. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “Delas has joined the ranks of the finest Rhone valley producers. The impetus for the change is Jacques Grange, a Burgundian who worked with Michel Chapoutier before joining Delas.” Delas produces Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Cornas, Cote Rotie, Gigondas, Hermitage, Vacqueyras and Viognier. The most acclaimed cuvee is the Hermitage Les Bessards made from 70-year-old Syrah vines.

REGION

France, Rhône Valley, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

The Northern Rhône Valley wine region hugs the Rhône River from Vienne in the north to Valence at its southern tip. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Septentrionales, and it is divided into eight appellations. Along with its neighbor to the south, the Southern Rhone Valley, it is famous for its big, tannic, intensely concentrated wines. Syrah is the only red grape permitted in AOC wines from this sub-region, though the Syrah can be blended with the white wine grapes Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, depending on the regulations for each AOC. White wines are made from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Of the eight appellations in the north, the most admired wines tend to come from Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Hermitage, though there are certainly exceptional wines to be found in St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, St.-Peray, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. Along with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, Rhône wines are among France’s best known and most collected wines. Red wines from these appellations are notable for their signature aromas of bacon and green olives, and for their depth. Robert M. Parker, a great champion of Rhone wines, has written that “the northern Rhône produces three of the greatest wines in the world – the white wines of Condrieu and the red wines of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage.”

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.

VINTAGE

2017 Delas Freres St. Joseph Francois de Tournon