In addition to its longstanding expertise as a negociant in the Rhône Valley, Maison Delas is also a fully-fledged estate with its own vineyards. It owns and masterfully cultivates 10 hectares in the Hermitage appellation, including 7.5 hectares in Les Bessards—one of the most prestigious parcels—along with Les Grandes Vignes.
Jacques Grange, Technical Director, joined the Maison in 1997 specifically for this gem, rooted in pure granite. “We are fortunate to be at the heart of the finest part of a truly microscopic appellation,” he explains. Indeed, Syrah on granite works wonders here—long, elegant, and fresh. We head to the gravity-flow winery, fully renovated in 2015. Its undulating walls, made from Luberon stone, echo the terraced slopes of the Hermitage hillside. The vats are small, allowing for gentle, parcel-by-parcel vinification. The focus is on infusion rather than extraction, and ageing is meant to support the wine, not overwhelm it. More recently, cellar master Marco Beckman has introduced Clayver—stoneware vessels that encourage micro-oxygenation. “We’re not seeking power”, says Jacques Grange. “Syrah is a marvellous grape; it gives us everything—colour, aromatics, tannins, finesse, delicacy, and full ripeness. It simply needs to be handled with subtlety”.
Clément Panigai, vineyard manager, brings the same level of precision to his work—on the terraces. “Our cuvees are blends of altitudes and terraces—111 in total, ranging from 120 to 300 metres above sea level,” he explains. “The vine carries the fruit, and it is the key to translating the expression of our terroir”.
The vineyard is farmed organically, using massal selection and trained using the traditional echalas method. “I follow the old ways,” says Clement. “I use arching supports between the stakes to shade the vines. Our goal is to maintain vineyard balance every year. We're constantly exploring ways to improve”.
Raimonds delights in the Hermitage 2022 cuvées—Les Bessards, Ligne de Crêtes – Les Grandes Vignes, and Domaine des Tourettes (a blend of Bessards and Grandes Vignes). “The 2023 wines offer a true image of the terroir and align perfectly with global trends: freshness and balance”, he remarks.
The Hermitage wines from Maison Delas instinctively bring a smile to the face—wines of pleasure, crafted for today yet built to age beautifully. Thank you for these beautiful vibrations!
Florence Corbalan
Color: clear and bright, with an intense ruby core and light purple red rim.
Nose: alluring nose with an elevated intensity showing ripe dark plum, sweet blackberry and Morello cherry notes, combined with spicy cinnamon bark, crushed black pepper and savoury dried herbs like sage and thyme. Slight earthiness and very fine oak notes of gently charred wood. Dried violets in the background, fine complexity.
Palate: great concentration of flavour on the attack with dense and sweet tannins, silky textured. Well integrated alcohol and fresh acidity underneath. The mid-palate shows flesh and density with dark fleshy fruits adding sweetness and ripeness, warming spices (clove and cinnamon) and gently charred wood notes on the finish. Complex and long.
Comment: after an hour in a decanter this could be a perfect wine to match a roast of wild duck served with glazed root vegetables, spices and a dense red wine reduction.
Color: clear and star bright, with an intense golden colour and light green reflections.
Nose: beautiful and ripe aromatics with yellow sweet apricots, pear and plum, a creamy and nutty scent of almond pie. Aeration reveals attractive scents of white blossom honey and fresh herbal note of chamomile. Still youthful and tight but with increasing complexity.
Palate: very charming palate with intensity, concentration and weighty oiliness, combined with precision and fresh acidity underneath. The mid-palate is full of fresh ripe lemon, sweet peach and apricot, with a crunchy character, sweet spices, gentle toast and light vanilla. Creamy lees with beeswax character, long and persistent finish.
Comment: a complex and rich white wine intended for a rich cuisine – a buttery saffron risotto served with a butter poached langoustine.
