Delas La Landonne Cte-Rtie 2019 (750ml)

Delas Freres is a winery of tradition and renewal. Founded 160 years ago in the heart of the northern Ctes du Rhne, the winery enjoyed the dynamism of its original founders and their heirs and more recently, the renewed energy of the Lallier-Deutz family, owners of champagne house, Champagne Deutz.

Delas Freres and Champagne Deutz were acquired by the Champagne House of Louis Roederer in 1993. Andre Lallier retired from daily winery duties in 1996, and Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year executive with Roederer, has taken the helm at both Delas and Deutz.

Today, the Delas wines are crafted by a panel of experts headed by winemaker Jacques Grange. Together, the team makes wines that have been heralded for their intensity of flavor and excellent value.

95-97 pointsJeb Dunnuck

\”A classic wine from this terroir, the 2018 Cte Rtie La Landonne has a powerful, smoky, minerality style as well as rocking cassis and black raspberry fruit, full body, the plush, sexy, opulence of the vintage, and a great finish. It has a wealth of fruit yet stays balanced and pure. This is a gorgeous wine in the making.\” (12/2019)

96 pointsRobert Parker\’s Wine Advocate

\”The dark-hued 2018 Cote Rotie La Landonne remains one of the stars of the Delas stable. Hints of thyme and sage appear on the nose alongside deep mocha shadings, raspberries and blueberries. Concentrated and tannic, this medium to full-bodied wine demands at least short-term cellaring, but all indications are that aging will be amply rewarded. There\’s a rich, velvety mouthfeel, plenty of gorgeous fruit and a tannicbut ripefinish that lingers for what must be over a minute. (JC)\” (5/2021)

95-96 pointsVinous

[\”Expansive blackberry, cherry liqueur, incense and licorice aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive, smoky minerals and vanilla. Sweet, penetrating and focused on the palate, offering impressively concentrated but energetic black and blue fruit preserve, violet pastille and succulent herb flavors that show outstanding power and sharp definition. Smoothly plays power off finesse and finishes extremely long and minerally, with fine-grained tannins coming in late. (JR)\” (5/2020)

95 pointsJames Suckling

\”Smelling this is like reclining into a huge leather sofa! Very rich and concentrated, but also with a major structure that will need some time to completely resolve. As it aerates, it grows in complexity, gaining a lot of subtle herbal and spice notes. Very long finish with a great interplay of mineral and savory notes. Drink or hold.\” (3/2022)

94 pointsWine Spectator

\”Vibrant and racy version with raspberry, blackberry and lack cherry fruit driving along with good energy while graphite, violet and smoldering bay hints fill in throughout. Very solid through the finish. (JM)\” (2/2021)

K&L Notes

John Livingstone-Learmonth for The Cradle of the Rhone: \”(cask) dark red, mauve top. The nose is perfumed in a musky way, with lush dark berry fruits attached, is an open, generous start. The palate is immediately expressive, offers rolling cherry fruits with a little cut, grain in the tannins, along with late oaking, vanilla, with licorice. Its a warm vintage Rtie, channels Southern ripeness and fleshy content along its path, but also carries late detail in its juice. It has a supple, almost copious tone.\” (11/2019)