Name: 2020 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc - 750 ml
Brand: Delas
SKU: 106631-750-AI
Price: 129 USD
Availability: InStock

2020 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc

98 RP

Qty:

From the critics:

100 JD

96 JS

94 WS

93 RP

93 JG

I was absolutely blown away by the 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes Blanc, a rich, powerful expression of Marsanne (there’s 10% Roussanne as well) from the L’Ermite, le Sabot, and La Tourette lieux-dits, brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Revealing a vivid gold hue, it just about jumps out of the glass with its exotic nose of honeyed quince, acacia flowers, buttered pears, chalky minerality, spice, and licorice. The purity is off the charts, and it has full-bodied richness, a deep, plush, opulent mouthfeel, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée to date, and readers who love the richer, powerful style of Hermitage should do their best to snatch bottles up. I suspect the acidity is moderate, but it holds onto a riveting sense of freshness and has this liqueur of rock-like sensation on the finish, and it will stand toe to toe with anything out there. I would enjoy bottles over the coming 4-6 years or so and then, at that point, do my best to hold off until 2032 or after. Predicting drink windows for great Hermitage Blanc can be tricky, but this is worth buying multiple bottles and drinking in its youth, then taking a chance with a few in the cellar. There are roughly 400 cases made in each vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JD

Very striking nose of toasted almonds and pistachio nuts that’s still full of youthful energy, even if the stone-fruit character (mostly mirabelle) is discreet. So much underplayed power and beautiful candied-orange character on the ample yet precisely delineated palate. Then comes the stony finish that doesn’t want to stop. 100% from the marsanne grape. Drink or hold.

James Suckling | 96 JS

This is a very pure and restrained version, featuring white peach, yellow apple, quinine, honeysuckle and verbena notes stretching out together through a finish that sports a light kiss of brioche at the very end. Approachable now, with charm and elegance. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2030. 475 cases made, 16 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 94 WS

A bit lighter, fresher and easier to drink in the short term than the massive 2019, the 2020 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc should still prove capable of lasting 20 years in a cool cellar. It’s medium to full-bodied, full of notes of ripe melon and pear, with a long, citrusy and briny finish that shows a less pronounced bitterness than the previous vintage. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

The Maison Delas Frères’ 2020 Hermitage Blanc “Domaine des Tourettes” is a ripe wine in the style of this vintage, coming in at 14.5 percent octane. The white grapes for this bottling grow in the lieux à dits of l’Ermite, le Sabot and la Tourette on the hill of Hermitage. The cépages is ninety percent marsanne and ten percent roussanne, with the wine barrel-fermented and aged for nine months in cask prior to bottling, with the casks a combination of new, one or two years of age. The wine offers up a deep and complex nose of white peach, fresh pineapple, almond, a beautifully complex base of soil tones, acacia blossoms and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a great core of fruit, good framing acids, fine mineral drive and grip and a long, well-balanced and impressively precise finish that carries its alcohol beautifully and only shows a whisper of backend heat. This is a lovely bottle of Hermitage Blanc in the making. (Drink between 2026 - 2050)

John Gilman | 93 JG

Type of Wine	Rhone White
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.
Subregion	Northern Rhone
Appellation	Hermitage

Producer	Delas : Over the past twenty years the world has seen an obsession develop with the Rhone Valley. Chateauneuf-Du-Pape to Cote-Rotie and every lieu-dit in between has seen a tremendous influx of France’s second largest winegrowing region. It is a vast and diverse land that satisfies nearly every palate… and every budget. It is because producers like Delas have found ways to produce a myriad of wines at nearly every price point without detriment to superb quality. What we know today as Delas (Delas Freres) was founded in 1835, when Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas purchased the Maison Junique wine merchant company in Tournon Sur Rhone. Ninety years later Philippe’s two sons, one of which married the daughter of Audibert, Henri and Florentin Delas took over management and renamed the company Delas Freres. When the next generation inherited Delas Freres in 1960, the company had already become one of the top producers of Rhone wines and had increased its holdings in Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Condrieu in the north and Chateauneuf-Du-Pape in the South. The success at Delas garnered the attention of the well-known Champagne firm, Deutz and in 1977 a partnership was formed. In 1993 Deutz and Delas Freres were approached by the Rouzaud Family of the Roederer Group, to which they joined and since, the Delas philosophy has continued to flourish, enabling the company to reach far greater heights. Ambitious initiatives were implemented from key personnel installments to “own sourcing” principles, to increased holdings which have allowed Delas to approach the modern era with an array of tools for developing the brand’s name. These modern developments have placed Delas in an extraordinary position, strategically but also geographically. Delas has 10 hectares under vine in AOC Hermitage where their beloved “Domaine des Tourrettes” is sourced from 100% Syrah grapes. Their white hermitage is comprised of Marsanne and Roussanne. In Crozes-Hermitage, their 100% Syrah “Domaine Des Grands Chemins” is produced from 18 hectares of which they own as well. In addition to their domaine wines, Delas has unique relationships with like-minded vineyard owners and growers in which they have been able to develop the “Single Vineyard” approach. Their very own wine growing team has a hands on oversight of individual parcels which reflect their own terroir. Their five single vineyards hail from some of the greatest lieu-dits in northern Rhone; Bessards (Hermitage) Landonne (Cote-Rotie) Clos Boucher (Condrieu) Saint-Epine (St. Joseph) and The Closed (Crozes-Hermitage). Delas also sources grapes from other growers to help compliment their portfolio. Whatever the palate or budget insists, from Chateauneuf-Du-Pape, Cote-Rotie, Cotes Du Rhone, St. Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, to Condrieu, Delas provides. They have developed a broad spectrum of offerings that have one thing in common…outstanding quality.