DELAS Red Crozes Hermitage Domaine des Grand Chemins 2023 75 cl

Description

Maison Delas Domaine des Grands Chemins 2023: a northern Syrah full of character

Maison Delas’s Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins 2023 forms part of the ‘Domaines & Terroirs’ collection, which showcases wines designed to accurately express the identity of the great appellations of the northern Rhône. This single-vineyard cuvée is made from 100 per cent Syrah, the emblematic grape variety of Crozes-Hermitage. The grapes come from terroirs composed of alluvial soil and granite, benefiting from an aspect favourable to ripening.

The 2023 vintage experienced a hot summer, but the harvest yielded healthy, high-quality grapes. The grapes are harvested by hand into Palox crates. They are then destemmed before being transferred by gravity into small stainless-steel vats. The winemaking process prioritises gentle extraction through carefully controlled pumping-over and punching down, in order to preserve the fruit and the finesse of the tannins.

Ageing is also one of the hallmarks of this cuvée. 50 per cent of the volume is aged for 12 months in barrels, 20 per cent of which are new oak, whilst the remainder is aged in stainless steel vats. After the various batches have been selected, the wine is racked and then blended before continuing its ageing for a further nine months. In total, the Domaine des Grands Chemins 2023 thus undergoes 21 months of ageing before bottling.

On tasting, the colour is deep garnet with violet hues. The nose combines black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant with smoky and liquorice notes, along with a hint of eucalyptus and menthol. On the palate, it is fresh and lively on the attack, then gains in density with a full-bodied, tannic and almost silky texture. The finish is long and lingering.

This 2023 Crozes-Hermitage will pair perfectly with grilled red meats, lamb, game birds, stews or a fine cut of beef.