Delas: 99 and 98 point Hermitage 2018

The top Hermitage at Delas is Ligne de Crete. The best vintage of it so far is the 2018. The Wine Advocate puts this vintage above any other, rating it 99 points and noting that it “may be a candidate for a perfect score in the future”. This outstanding wine is just entering its drinking window, but will continue to develop for at least two decades in the cellar.

First made in 2015, Ligne de Crete is a single vineyard wine from a tiny 2.31ha plot on the top of the Hermitage hill, just above Les Bessards. The high altitude here means that the grapes typically ripen ten days later than elsewhere in the appellation. This gives the wine a particular freshness, which balances well with the richness of warm years such as 2018.

Offered alongside Ligne de Crete is Delas‘ Hermitage Les Bessards. One of Hermitage’s most famous lieux-dits, Les Bessards lies in the heart of the appellation on classic granitic soil.  Delas own a parcel of old vines here, the oldest of which date back to 1946. From these low yielding vines come a maximum of 500 cases per year. 2018 is an excellent vintage of Les Bessards, rated 98 points by Wine Advocate. 

Delas came under the ownership of Louis Roederer in 1997. Since then, quality has steadily climbed, and the wines have developed a reputation for finesse and elegance. The 2018s show just how good Delas can be.

These 2018 Hermitage wines are top-notch. They offer exceptional value given the quality in the bottle.

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