The 2015 Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards is a Syrah from the renowned Hermitage appellation in the Northern Rhone region of France. This wine is characterized by its deep red color and robust 14.5% alcohol content, and it is sealed with a traditional cork closure. Approximately 500 cases of this vintage were produced.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a near-perfect score of 99+, praising its aromatic complexity and concentration. "It's perfumed on the nose, concentrated on the palate and amazingly long yet also elegant from start to finish," writes Joe Czerwinski. He highlights the wine's massive cassis and blackberry fruit, alongside hints of crushed stone from its granitic terroir.
Jeb Dunnuck gave this wine a perfect score of 100, describing it as "massively concentrated and tannic" with a "broad, expansive, heavenly texture." He notes the wine's rich flavors of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, and saddle leather, and mentions its balanced and graceful palate. Dunnuck also points out that the wine was aged for 18 months in 30% new barrels and predicts it will begin to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age, lasting for three decades or more.
Wine Spectator awarded the wine a score of 94, noting its polished and pure nature. Reviewer J.M. describes a "beam of cassis and cherry preserves streaming through, flanked with floral and iron streaks," and praises the long, refined finish with spice and apple wood details.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave the wine a high score of 99, emphasizing the minerality and the layers of ripe, deep black fruits. He describes the wine as "full-bodied and rich," with flavors that build in intensity.
James Suckling also rated it 94, noting the strong granitic character and dark slate, blackberry, and plum fruits on the nose. He remarks on the fine, powerful, yet velvety tannins, and well-integrated oak, recommending to drink from 2020.
Wine Enthusiast’s Anna Lee C. Iijima gave the wine a score of 96, highlighting its balance between bold ripeness and a granite edge. She describes it as "plump and full-bodied" with supple blackberry and plum flavors, balanced by acidity and penetrating tannins. She suggests the wine will be at its peak from 2020-2035 but could hold further.
Overall, the 2015 Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards has received outstanding reviews from multiple respected sources, making it a noteworthy choice for collectors and enthusiasts.
