Les Bessards is a legendary lieu-dit, the true backbone of Hermitage, imposing a natural constraint on the vine. It stands as the master and sovereign of the hill. Here, the roots plunge deep into the earth, giving rise to a mineral, vertical Syrah with restrained power. The soil consists of decomposed granite mixed with alluvial deposits, poor in organic matter yet offering remarkable drainage capacity. Maison Delas' vines are spread across 75 terraces in Les Bessards, ranging from 120 to 263 meters in altitude. This cuvée seeks to reveal the very essence of a unique terroir and the exceptional fusion of granite and Syrah expressed here. The wine carries the telluric force of the site, conveyed through a restrained yet undeniable power. 

The harvest is carried out by hand, and each lieu-dit is vinified separately to express the quintessence of the terroir. Once destemmed, the grapes are transferred to stainless steel tanks. Fermentation lasts approximately three weeks. Extraction is gentle and primarily focused on the early stages of fermentation, with carefully calibrated pump-overs and punch-downs to preserve the wine's balance. After racking off, the wine is drawn off and transferred to barrels. Malolactic fermentation takes places in oak barrels, followed by ageing for around 18 months. The proportion of new oak is limited to 25%. A final blending in stainless steel vats is carried out 10 months prior to bottling. 

The wine is a brilliant, deep red hue with lots of depth. The nose shows great class, with soft aromas of blackberries and violets. Hermitage "Les Bessards" shows plenty of concentration in its fruit. This is a wine with a particularly dense tannic structure, and extremely good balance.

After a rainy end to 2022, an exceptionally dry winter and early spring led to early and uniform budburst. The wetter late spring, with no mistral winds, was offset by favorable flowering conditions, accelerating the vegetative cycle. Veraison progressed steadily in late July. The August heatwave hastened ripening in parts of the vineyard, sometimes resulting in heterogeneity between parcels. 

This wine pairs well with roast pigeon, venison with grand veneur sauce, truffle-based dishes, and noble mushrooms.