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2018 Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards

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Latest Sale Price

September 24, 2023 - $115

Estimate

RATINGS

97Jeb Dunnuck

...a gorgeous nose of crème de cassis, scorched earth, violets, pepper, and a liquid rock-like minerality. It’s full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with background oak, flawless balance, ripe yet present tannins, and a great, great finish...has gorgeous purity of fruit and an incredible sense of class.

96Wine Spectator

This is packed with intense dark fig, blackberry and boysenberry reduction flavors that show a subtle singed alder thread as they assert themselves, weaving around while mouthwatering anise and bay leaf notes filter through. The finish shows a late echo of scorched earth, with the fruit keeping pace. A dense and muscular wine, yet with superb detail. One for the cellar.

96-97Vinous / IWC

A highly complex bouquet displays an array of mineral-accented dark fruit, floral and spice qualities complemented by suggestions of olive paste, cola, licorice and incense. Stains the palate with densely packed dark berry, cherry, candied violet and fruitcake flavors... Shows real finesse for its depth of flavor and finishes extremely long and precise, with a building mineral note, youthfully firm tannins and outstanding, spice- and floral-tinged persistence.

92+ -94+ The Wine Advocate

...overly marked by wood, with notes of charred oak and mocha dominating the fruit. It's full-bodied, intense and velvety, with black olive nuances coming through on the finish...

REGION

France, Rhône Valley, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

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.