Producer
Many Rhône producers have enjoyed a renaissance in the last decade, and none more so than Delas. The company has history (back to 1836) and land (twelve prime hectares, including La Landonne and Les Bessards). Since 1997, in the form of Jacques Grange, it has also had a winemaker capable of realising all that potential. Under his influence a more modern ‘boutique’ approach has been taken, and the wines now combine clarity of flavour with hedonistic appeal – surely the ultimate goal for a Rhône producer.
Vineyard
La Landonne is a single plot of vines situated on the steep, terraced slopes of the Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde at the southerly tip of the appellation. The grapes were hand-picked at optimum ripeness.
Winery
The destemmed fruit fermented in open-topped concrete tanks, following three days’ cold maceration. Temperature was limited to 28- 30oC, and both punching down and pumping over were carried out over a ten-day period; total maceration was twenty days. The wine was then transferred to new 228-litre barrels for malolactic fermentation and fourteen to sixteen months’ ageing.
Taste
Floral, brambly, bacon-rind perfume – unmistakable Côte-Rôtie. From one of the appellation’s most revered single vineyards, this is a compelling blend of power and finesse.
Press
“Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2012 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is a fabulous effort that oozes notions of cassis, black raspberry, violet, incense and spice-box. Medium to full-bodied, with a gorgeous mid-palate and building, fine tannin, enjoy this ripe, layered, textured beauty over the coming 10-15 years.” – 95 points, The Wine Advocate, November 2014