90 WA- Delas Freres "Saint Esprit" Cotes du Rhone Red 2009 (750ML)

Delas Freres has produced two other outstanding sleepers of the vintage, and both wines dramatically over-deliver for their appellations. The brilliant 2009 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit is the best Cotes du Rhone I have ever tasted from Delas. Seventy percent Syrah, twenty percent Grenache and the rest Carignan and Mourvedre, this wine comes primarily form the Cotes du Rhone village of Cairanne. The wine has great fruit and a sweet raspberry and black cherry nose with some herbs, licorice, and pepper. Aged all in tank, the wine is medium to full-bodied and possesses sweet tannin as well as a long finish.

The brilliant Jacques Granges remains in control of all winemaking at Delas Freres, and he has produced some of his greatest wines in 2009 for the northern cuvees. Moreover, this is a firm that has surged ahead in quality over the last 15 years, and their southern Rhone selections are increasingly impressive, including some excellent bargains. 90 WA

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