“A well-crafted red, with bitter cherry and plum coursing alongside earthy undertones of licorice root and singed alder. Fresh and vivid, with black pepper, anise and menthol lining the mesquite-kissed finish. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now.”

“The Domaine des Grands Chemins Crozes from Delas Frères is crafted entirely from vines that live in the le Chassis sector of the appellation, which is its heart. The wine is raised in a combination of stainless steel tanks and used Burgundy casks. The 2020 version offers up a lovely aromatic constellation of cassis, grilled meats, bonfire, coffee bean, pepper, stony soil tones and just a touch of cedar from the used oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and nicely open on the attack, with a fine core of fruit, good soil undertow, suave tannins and fine focus and balance on the long and complex finish. Good juice that is already drinking nicely out of the blocks. 2023-2035+..”

“The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage “Les Launes” from Delas Frères comes in at thirteen percent octane in this vintage and offers up excellent depth and complexity on both the nose and palate. A small percentage of the cuvée is aged in oak casks to color the blend with just a touch of oak influence. The fine bouquet wafts from the glass in a complex and smoky blend of black raspberries, smoked meats, black tea, pepper, a fine base of soil, a touch of lavender, gentle toasty oak notes and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is deep, focused and full-bodied, with a lovely structure, superb depth at the core, good soil signature, ripe tannins and excellent balance 81 on the long, complex and promising finish. This is certainly approachable today, but it is still a puppy and three to five years in the cellar will pay handsome dividends. 2023-2050.”

“The 2020 Côte-Rôtie “Seigneur de Maugiron” bottling from Maison Delas Frères is crafted from fruit from both the Côte de Brune and the Côte de Blonde. The wine is fermented in cement vats, given a couple of days “cold soak” and then raised in Burgundy barrels for fourteen to sixteen months, with the oak either new or “one wine” in age. The 2020 Seigneur de Maugiron tips the scales at 13.5 percent octane and offers up a deep, complex and gently new oaky nose of cassis, espresso, pepper, roasted meats, dark soil tones, nutty new oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and complex, with a rock solid core of fruit, ripe, chewy tannins and fine balance on the long, promising finish. This needs plenty of hibernation time, but is going to be a fine example. 2033-2065+.”

“The Crozes-Hermitage “Le Clos” bottling from Delas Frères is their single vineyard bottling of Crozes, with this vineyard also located in the le Chassis sector of the appellation. The wine is raised for fourteen to sixteen months, entirely in used barrels, with the casks one to three years of age. The 2020 le Clos is a touch riper than the Domaine des Grands Chemins, coming in at an even fourteen percent alcohol in this vintage. The bouquet is deep, complex and sappy, wafting from the glass in a mix of black raspberries, cassis, black olive, pepper, hung game, a fine base of stony soil, a touch of lavender, cedary oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and shows off outstanding depth at the core, with fine soil inflection, ripe, buried tannins, lovely focus and grip and a long, complex and impeccably balanced finish. This is first class Crozes. 2028-2045.”