Founded in 1835 by Charles Audibert and Phillipe Delas, the celebrated Delas Freres winery grows 30 hectares of vines comprising 10 hectares in Hermitage (including the Domaines des Tourettes estate), 2 hectares in Saint-Joseph, and 18 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage.

In addition to the grapes produced by Delas' own wine growing team, Delas' close relationships with like-minded owner-winegrowers ensure that the company is able to source grapes grown on individual parcels, which reflect their own unique terroir.

Exclusively a family-owned operation for over a century, Delas Freres joined forces with Champagne Deutz in 1977. In 1993, Deutz and Delas Freres were approached by the Rouzaud family, majority shareholder in the Roederer Group. They joined the Roederer Group under whose umbrella Delas' philosophy continues to flourish.

The 2018 Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards is a Syrah hailing from the esteemed Hermitage appellation in Northern Rhone, France. This wine stands out not only for its rich heritage but also for its remarkable quality, as reflected in the glowing reviews from critics.

James Suckling awarded it a score of 95, appreciating the wine's "extremely full-bodied and concentrated palate" and noting that the tannins are "beautifully crafted and are already fully integrated." He highlights the wine's "very long, remarkably fresh finish," which is notable given the warm vintage (jamessuckling.com, 3/16/2022).

Jeb Dunnuck was even more enthusiastic, giving it a 97 and describing it as a "stunning Hermitage in every sense." He points out its "deep purple/violet color" and "gorgeous nose of crème de cassis, scorched earth, violets, pepper, and a liquid rock-like minerality." Dunnuck praises its "flawless balance" and predicts that it will keep for "30+ years or more" (jebdunnuck.com, 11/19/2020).

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the highest praise with a score of 98. The review highlights classic notes of "sun-warmed cassis and crushed stone," along with "grilled plums, grilled meat and black olives." The finish is described as "fresh and cleansing," with lingering flavors of "salted-licorice" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 5/13/2021).

Vinous also lauded the wine, scoring it a 96 and noting its "hugely perfumed, mineral-accented" aromas and "alluringly sweet kirsch, cassis, fruitcake and cola flavors." The finish is described as "chewy and floral-accented" with "steadily building tannins" (Vinous, 12/22/2022).

Wine & Spirits awarded it a 95, emphasizing its "intense, concentrated" nature and complex flavors that "last for minutes after each sip." The review recommends setting it aside for a decade before enjoying (Wine & Spirits, 2/1/2021).

Wine Enthusiast gave it a 97, noting its "black-cherry coulis and crème de cassis flavors" and its "zesty acidity and a bristling mineral undertow." The review suggests the wine will improve through 2035 and hold much longer (Wine Enthusiast, 5/1/2021).

Finally, Wine Spectator also scored it a 96, praising its "intense dark fig, blackberry and boysenberry reduction flavors" and "superb detail." The review suggests it is one for the cellar and will be best enjoyed from 2024 through 2038 (Wine Spectator, 2/8/2021).

In summary, the 2018 Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards is a highly acclaimed Syrah with a robust and complex profile, deserving of its high scores and long aging potential.