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Delas Freres Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes 2018 750ml
Case of 6
OUT OF STOCKPre-arrival
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 883240
Out of stock
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While I’ve had multiple looks at previous vintages, this is my first review of the 2018 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes. Inky in hue, it boasts powerful, brooding aromas that include hints of hardwood charcoal, dark berries, licorice, crushed stone and pencil shavings. Full-bodied and almost painfully intense, it’s a huge, mouthfilling wine that seems capable of aging up to three decades. Rich, supple and creamy in texture, yet possessing remarkable length and retronasal nuance, it has to rank up there with some of the Hermitage hill’s classics from other, more renowned producers. It certainly deserves a seat at that table and may be a candidate for a perfect score in the future.
Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet's most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn't easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.
France, often regarded as the heart of the wine world, boasts a rich history, diverse terroirs, and a captivating variety of grape varietals. From the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy, France offers a wine lover’s dream journey. Whether you’re new to the world of wine or a seasoned enthusiast looking […]
The Rhone Valley of southern France is a particularly fascinating wine region, with a history that stretches back to at least six hundred BCE, when the ancient Greeks first began cultivating vines there. The region itself is split into two distinct sub-regions, with the northern sub-region being famed for its production of exceptional Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier wines, packed full of interesting character and expressing the terroir found there. The southern sub-region is home to an enormous variety of grapes, and produces red, white and rosé wines, and some of the world's most famous and adored blended wines. The continental climate of the region is ideal for growing grapes, and the winds which blow from the Central Massif help temper the heat in the vineyards, leading to very ripe fruits holding plenty of flavor.
Appellation
Hermitage
Hermitage, a revered appellation in the Northern Rhône Valley, France, stands as a viticultural icon synonymous with Syrah greatness. What makes Hermitage unique is its commanding south-facing granite slopes along the Rhône River, bathed in sunlight and sheltered from the mistral winds. This terroir imparts distinct intensity and concentration to the Syrah grapes, resulting in wines of extraordinary depth and longevity.
Hermitage wines are renowned for their complexity, showcasing dark fruit, black pepper, and a profound minerality. The appellation also allows for a small percentage of white grapes—Marsanne and Roussanne—adding elegance and aromatic richness to the whites produced.
Legendary producers like Chapoutier and Jaboulet have contributed to Hermitage's reputation for excellence, highlighting the appellation's dedication to crafting wines that embody the essence of Syrah and the unique terroir of the Rhône Valley. Exploring Hermitage offers a captivating journey into the pinnacle of Northern Rhône winemaking, where tradition, terroir, and the Syrah grape converge to create wines of unparalleled stature.
WA99pts
Wine Advocate
While I've had multiple looks at previous vintages, this is my first review of the 2018 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes. Inky in hue, it boasts powerful, brooding aromas that include hints of hardwood charcoal, dark berries, licorice, crushed stone and pencil shavings. Full-bodied and almost painfully intense, it's a huge, mouthfilling wine that seems capable of aging up to three decades. Rich, supple and creamy in texture, yet possessing remarkable length and retronasal nuance, it has to rank up there with some of the Hermitage hill's classics from other, more renowned producers. It certainly deserves a seat at that table and may be a candidate for a perfect score in the future.
WE97pts
Wine Enthusiast
This inky, ripe Syrah is sourced from a single plot near the sun-drenched pinnacle of the Hermitage. Pumped with ripeness and searing black spice, the roasted, mouthstaining plum and blueberry flavors are rimmed by fiery tannins. Tasted at the end of 2021, its density and frame still feel impenetrable. This complex wine should only increase its smoky, charred-earth intensity from 2024 and improve well through 2050. (Cellar Selection)
JD97pts
Jeb Dunnuck
I was also able to taste a small vertical of the Hermitage Les Grandes Vignes from this estate for this report. Certainly the biggest, richest wine in the lineup, the 2018 Hermitage Les Grandes Vignes has a vivid purple hue as well as sensational notes of blueberries, cassis, violets, crushed stone, spring flowers, and camphor. It's full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with ripe, silky tannins and an incredible finish. It's already offering pleasure today yet has another 25+ years of longevity ahead of it. Easily my favorite in the lineup, this incredible Hermitage is going to flirt with perfection at maturity.
WS95pts
Wine Spectator
Plum paste, linzer torte and cassis notes give this a fruit-filled profile, while licorice, sweet spice and dark earth accents provide a solid background. There's a buried iron underpinning, and a late echo of singed alder on the finish. All of this feels seamless, thanks to an understated polish. Drink now through 2036. 167 cases made, 40 cases imported.
Winery Notes
The nose discloses aromas of spice and leather intertwined with deep berry aromas (blackberry, redcurrant) and heady floral notes, liquorice and incense. Its richness, complexity and elegance are by no means a contradiction. The finest granite soils of the Hermitage hillside are to thank for this wine's incredible minerality and finesse. The wine is rich and dense on entry to the palate, where it shows an elegant, broad and flavoursome character. The ripe, smooth and well-integrated tannins contribute to the wine's powerful yet harmonious structure. The palate reveals the same aromas as those found on the nose with nuances of blueberry, raspberry, violet and bitter chocolate. The "Ligne de Crête" is characterised by its exceptional structure, harmony and balance.
