As a Northern Rhone wine lover and resident guru, my clients often ask me my personal opinions on their selections from this gorgeous yet misunderstood region. I inevitably end up discussing the wines from Delas, a fabulous producer, at some point. Here are some of the particulars: In 1835, Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas purchased a wine merchant company in Tournon-sur-Rhone. Previously called Maison Junique, they renamed it Audibert and Delas. The links between the two familes would be pulled ever tighter when the two Delas sons, Henri and Florentin, married two Audibert daughters. In 1924, Henri and Florentin took over as managers of the company whose name then changed to Delas Frères.
They constantly developed the business, both on the merchant side and by acquiring vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape and Hermitage. This helped ensure a constant production of quality wines. After the war in 1945, the wines of Delas Freres had a “boom” period. They were sold in barrels in London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Geneva and the United States. In 1977, the firm of Delas Freres was bought by the Champagne firm, Deutz, and in 1993 both Deutz and Delas Freres became part of the Roederer Group.
Robert Parker has said the following about Delas Freres: “Delas Freres…hit full stride over the last 10-15 years under the ownership of the Louis Roederer-Deutz Champagne firm… The top single vineyard wines are world-class in every sense, often flirting with perfection. Moreover, they are an impressive source for value…”
g
2010 Delas St. Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon – 96 points Robert Parker
“…brilliant. A dense purple color is followed by notes of graphite, pen ink, blackberries and blueberries, and hints of raspberries, smoke and subtle oak. This full-bodied, classic, monumental St.-Joseph was aged completely in small barrels. The good news is that 1,500 cases are just hitting the market…Don’t miss it!” - Robert Parker