2015 Delas Frères "Les Bessards" Hermitage
SKU #1364039
100 points
Jeb Dunnuck
The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it's always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It's a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!
(12/2017)
99 points
Wine Advocate
With approximately 500 cases produced, the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards is probably among the most available of the vintage's top wines. Jump on it if your means allow, as I suspect this wine will be a candidate for perfection once it sheds some tannin. It's perfumed on the nose, concentrated on the palate and amazingly long yet also elegant from start to finish. And amid the power, oak and massive cassis and blackberry fruit, it also manages to include hints of crushed stone evocative of its granitic terroir. It's breathtaking stuff, virtually guaranteed to bring a smile to any wine lover's face. (JC) 99+
(12/2017)
96 points
Decanter
Typically Bessards, showing granite, smoke and smoky bacon on the nose. It's full but svelte, seamless on the palate with exceptionally smooth, slatey tannins, sufficiently ripe but still fresh and toothsome. Concentrated and inky black fruits sit alongside tea leaf and a touch of cigar tobacco. It's not massive, but very well balanced and intense, with a long, well-tailored finish. This is fairly tannic, so give it time. A polished, thoroughbred Hermitage. (MW)
(10/2017)
96 points
Vinous
A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, along with complicating suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers, olive and vanilla. Deep, chewy and expansive in the mouth, offering impressively concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that are complicated by a hint of smoky minerality and a building floral pastille note. Distinctly rich and powerful but surprisingly graceful as well, showing noteworthy clarity and mineral-driven thrust on the strikingly long finish. (JR)
(4/2018)
96 points
Wine Enthusiast
There’s a striking balance here calibrating
bold, almost muscular ripeness against an
invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. *Cellar Selection* (AI)
(9/2018)
94 points
James Suckling
The granitic Bessards character is strong here with dark slate and dark, lustrous blackberry and plum fruits on the nose. The palate has a swathe of fine, long and powerful, yet velvety, tannins. Oak is nicely integrated. Very fresh. A great wine.
(7/2017)
94 points
Wine Spectator
Polished and pure, with a beam of cassis and cherry preserves streaming through, flanked with floral and iron streaks. Long and refined through the finish, with pretty spice and apple wood details infusing the fruit flavor. (JM)
(4/2019)
Jancis Robinson
Real energy and some cool force bubbling up under the fruit. Minty and quite suave. Still a baby and like a taut spring but convincing. 18/20 points (JR)
(10/2016)
