RED WINE

The 2021 Côtes Du Rhône Le Temps Est Venu is terrific and unquestionably a resounding success in the vintage. Already bottled and based on 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, brought up all in concrete, it has lots of darker berry fruits, some peppery, violet, and floral notes, medium body, fine tannins, and a clean finish. It makes the most of the vintage and is perfect for drinking over the coming 4-5 years or so. JEB DUNNUCK

 

Under the same ownership as Champagne Roederer for a couple of decades now, Delas Frères recently opened a new winery and enotourism facility in Tain l'Hermitage. It's a brilliant, modern facility that should be on the list of things to visit when in town. Winemaking is in the capable hands of Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud. ROBERT PARKER

Ventoux is the name of the Village and only a select number of high-quality villages are allowed to put their name on the label. This is a bit of a hit from Delas and offers a more light and pretty version when compared to the CDR bottling. Nice purity stuffed with plenty of crunchy red fruits, think cranberry, raspberry and strawberry. There are flecks of ground pepper and vanilla spice in a lithe and lifted package. Another great release.

One of our favourite rhone reds year-in and year-out. There may be nothing quite as satisfying as a good value Rhone red and this one always delivers. Delas Freres is based in the beautiful northern Rhone with a large holding of their own vineyards supplemented by long-term relationships with quality growers all over the rhone. How they manage to put so much goodness into a bottle at this price is an astonishing feat to say the least.

While this indulgent red reflects the north’s regional dominance of Shiraz over Grenache, it reflects the darker fruits and a spicy earthiness often found in the southern Rhone, where this wine hails from. Silky rather than heavy, it still feels concentrated with bright, bubbly raspberry fruits complimented by a little dollop of wild, blackberry fruit. A waft of violets and pastille fruit just add to its appeal.

Delas Freres is a winery of tradition and renewal. Founded 160 years ago in the heart of the northern Côtes du Rhône, Delas wines are crafted by a panel of experts headed by winemaker Jacques Grange. Together, the team makes wines that have been heralded for their intensity of flavour and excellent value. Delas maintains a philosophy of preserving the authentic characteristics of each appellation through separate vinification of the fruit from each vineyard.

The Ventoux form Delas is always in a slightly lighter fresher style. We feel like it often gets over looked but from year to year it offers up the same quality and drinking pleasure of Delas' other rhone bottlings. Here, a little more red cherry and currant fruit is to the fore with white & black pepper sprinkling that slowly fades giving way to more heady luxe spice in the glass. It tips past the mid-point into slightly more fuller then in some years but is plenty vibrant and fresh. Fine tannins support the supple and open fruits. Another winner!

A good advertisement for the 2021 vintage in the Rhone this has stacks of red fruit and spice aromas, including a touch of pepper. Notes of licorice and sandalwood on the palate where the restrained tannins neatly fit with the generous fruit. Moderately dry finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. STUART PIGGOT, JamesSuckling.com