Delas : Domaine des Tourettes 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine des Tourettes 2021 by Delas

Tasting

Appearance

This wine displays a deep garnet hue with violet highlights, reflecting its concentration and the ripening conditions of the vintage.

Nose

The nose is particularly aromatic, with pronounced mineral accents reminiscent of flint and ink, hallmarks of the granite terroir. With aeration, the bouquet opens up to generous notes of candied black fruit, notably blackberry and blackcurrant, alongside floral hints of violet, as well as liquorice and subtle touches of olive and spice.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unfolds intense flavours of cherry, blueberry and fruitcake, lifted by a peppery touch. Notes of leather and tobacco round out the aromatic palette. The tannic structure is powerful yet refined, and seamlessly integrated. The balance between concentrated fruit, mineral freshness and elegant tannins lends the wine a lovely harmony. The long finish lingers on aromas of black fruit, spice and minerality.

Food and wine pairings

This Domaine des Tourettes 2021 is an ideal match for rack of lamb, wild boar civet, peppered beef fillet or grilled vegetables. Its structure and mineral complexity also pair beautifully with truffle- or mushroom-based dishes.

Serving and cellaring

Domaine des Tourettes 2021 can be enjoyed from 2025 and has ageing potential until around 2040.

An authentic Hermitage from the granite terroirs of the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1835 in Tournon-sur-Rhône, Maison Delas is today one of the leading producers of the northern Rhône Valley. Owned by the Louis Roederer group since 1993, Delas Frères has transformed itself from a négociant house into a renowned estate producer. With some thirty hectares of estate-owned vines, including ten hectares on the hill of Hermitage, the house strives to express its terroirs as faithfully as possible through meticulous plot-by-plot vinification.

The vineyard

Domaine des Tourettes comes from plots on the slopes of Hermitage, notably in the lieux-dits L'Ermite, Le Sabot and Les Bessards. The terroir is characterised by complex granitic soils combining granite, alluvial deposits and Pliocene marls. The vines enjoy a full south-facing exposure and shelter from northerly winds, ensuring optimal ripening conditions. This diversity of soils gives the wine its complexity and distinctive mineral character.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved particularly challenging in the northern Rhône Valley, with cooler temperatures and less sunshine than in the great years that preceded it. Despite these difficult weather conditions, the quality of the harvested grapes made it possible to produce elegant wines that express the character of the terroir with finesse.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes for Domaine des Tourettes 2021 are harvested by hand and then fully destemmed. Vinification takes place in traditional open concrete vats following a two-day cold pre-fermentation maceration. Fermentation is temperature-controlled between 28 °C and 30 °C, with daily punching-down for around ten days. Total maceration lasts twenty days. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months, around twenty-five per cent of which are new, followed by two months in stainless steel tanks to harmonise the blend before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Syrah