Delas Frères 2023 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 750ml

Domaine des Tourettes takes its name from the Marquise de la Tourette, and the cuvée itself is a genuine parcel-based statement on Hermitage hill's own vertical diversity — a blend of two emblematic lieux-dits, Les Grandes Vignes and Les Bessards, sitting at different altitudes on the slope, offering what Delas Frères describes as "a complete vertical reading of the vineyard, from the foot of the slope to its summit." The soils combine granite, mica schist, gneiss, and alluvial stone, with varying sunlight exposure between the two parcels creating a deliberate balance of mineral tension, depth, and texture in the finished wine.

Each lieu-dit is hand-harvested and vinified entirely separately to express its own individual terroir. Following destemming, the grapes ferment in stainless steel over three weeks, beginning with gentle extraction through carefully calibrated pump-overs and punch-downs. After draining, the wine racks into barrel, where malolactic fermentation takes place, followed by 18 months of aging. The final blend is assembled in stainless steel three months before bottling, ensuring the wine fully integrates before release. The 2023 growing season brought real variability — a rainy end to 2022 gave way to an exceptionally dry start in the north, before a very rainy second half of spring with no mistral wind from late April onward; an August heatwave then accelerated ripening without causing any blockage, aided by a few episodes of stormy rain.

The critical reception has been genuinely outstanding, with a remarkable five-publication sweep. The Wine Palate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded a stunning 96 Points, describing "fragrant notes of red roses, garrigue, and mossy tree bark, leading to a core of kirsch, black raspberries, and chargrill," calling it "medium to full-bodied," with the palate "packed with energetic red and black fruit layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing long and perfumed." James Suckling scored the wine 95 Points, finding it "simultaneously expansive and graceful with a very wide spectrum of red-fruit aromas and very fine tannins," alongside "floral, wet-stone and graphite character," concluding "it would be hard not to love this." Jeb Dunnuck scored it 94-96 Points, praising "brilliant aromatics of cassis, graphite, violets, smoked herbs, and a kiss of blood orange." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through Yohan Castaing, awarded 94 Points, noting the wine is "more spicy than most wines in the Delas range," with "aromas of licorice, thyme, timut pepper and a hint of grapefruit alongside dark fruit." The Tasting Panel's Meridith May also scored the wine 94 Points, describing it as "savory and earthbound, with notes of dried herbs, graphite, and forest floor." Delas's own official tasting notes describe a nose "very fragrant, with accents of smoke and notes of gunflint and ink," developing "candied black fruit, violet, licorice and a hint of olive and spice," the palate "marked by intense flavors of cherry, blueberry and fruitcake, sharpened by a spicy touch of pepper," calling it "a bold, powerful wine with a serious tannic structure" and "a long, penetrating finish." This is genuinely one of the most decorated Northern Rhône reds of the vintage — real structure and complexity from two of Hermitage hill's most storied parcels.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Delas Frères 2023 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is made entirely from Syrah, sourced from two emblematic lieux-dits on Hermitage hill — Les Grandes Vignes and Les Bessards — situated at different altitudes to offer a complete vertical expression of the vineyard. Soils combine granite, mica schist, gneiss, and alluvial stone.

Each lieu-dit is hand-harvested and vinified separately, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel over three weeks, with gentle extraction through calibrated pump-overs and punch-downs. Following draining, the wine racks into barrel, where malolactic fermentation occurs, followed by 18 months of aging in oak (approximately 20% new). The final blend is assembled in stainless steel three months before bottling. Total aging runs 21 months, with an aging potential of 25 years.

Critics Reviews

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate — 96 Points (July 2026):
"Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2023 Hermitage Domaines des Tourettes slowly unfurls to reveal fragrant notes of red roses, garrigue, and mossy tree bark, leading to a core of kirsch, black raspberries, and chargrill. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with energetic red and black fruit layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing long and perfumed. This is made from 100% Syrah."

James Suckling — 95 Points (April 2025):
"This stunning Hermitage is simultaneously expansive and graceful with a very wide spectrum of red-fruit aromas and very fine tannins. Also floral, wet-stone and graphite character. It would be hard not to love this for the wonderful harmony on the front- and mid-palates alone, then comes the fleshy yet structured finish that pulls you back for more. Matured only in oak casks, of which about 20% were new. Drink from release."

Jeb Dunnuck — 94-96 Points (February 2026):
"Not yet bottled, the 2023 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes offers brilliant aromatics of cassis, graphite, violets, smoked herbs, and a kiss of blood orange on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered, pure mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It picks up a beautiful floral character with air and shines for its beautiful overall balance, finesse, and elegance."

Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 94 Points (May 2026):
"The 2023 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is more spicy than most wines in the Delas range, revealing aromas of licorice, thyme, timut pepper and a hint of grapefruit alongside dark fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and fleshy, it's deep and structured, supported by a lively line of acidity that brings a welcome sense of freshness for the appellation. Long and precise, it concludes with a delicate, persistent finish."

Meridith May, The Tasting Panel Magazine — 94 Points (July 2026):
"This youthful cuvée was made with fruit from two lieux-dits planted at different altitudes on Hermitage hill. Malolactic took place in barrel, and after 18 months of aging, it was placed in stainless steel for three months prior to bottling. Displaying a linear frame, it's savory and earthbound, with notes of dried herbs, graphite, and forest floor. Blackberry skin accents its sinewy texture with a slight tannic grip."

Delas Frères (official tasting note):
"The nose is very fragrant, with accents of smoke and notes of gunflint and ink, which, only after a few minutes in the glass, give way to notes of candied black fruit, violet, licorice and a hint of olive and spice. The palate, meanwhile, is marked by intense flavors of cherry, blueberry and fruitcake, sharpened by a spicy touch of pepper. This is a bold, powerful wine with a serious tannic structure that frames a long, penetrating finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Medium garnet-purple. Very fragrant, with smoke, gunflint, and ink leading, developing red roses, garrigue, and mossy tree bark, alongside candied black fruit, violet, licorice, and cassis.

Palate
Medium to full-bodied, dense and fleshy, with kirsch, black raspberry, cherry, and blueberry carrying energetic fruit layers, framed by fine-grained, serious tannin and a lively line of acidity.

Finish
Long and penetrating, closing with spicy pepper and fruitcake, perfumed and structured — genuinely built for extended cellaring.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Grilled or roasted red meat
• Game
• Truffle-based dishes
• Characterful, hearty cuisine