2012 Delas Frères Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes

Community Tasting Notes (34) Avg Score: 91 points

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  12/27/2023 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points

  Christmas and birthday wines (Richfield and Winona): Decanted 30 minutes, drank half the bottle over 2 hours. A bottle 9 months ago had more interest. This remained easy drinking and tasty, fairly light-bodied, maybe a bit high in acid.

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  12/17/2023 - Scharin Likes this wine: 89 Points

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  8/22/2023 - RhoneWho wrote: 95 Points

  i was ready to give away this vintage after trying it 2-3 years ago as I was disappointed with the lack of fruit and flavor concentration probably reflecting the 2012 vintage. Simply there was nothing to write home about.
  
  Last week I opened it pairing with Sparks' NY Strip steak; and I found myself gushing down a few glasses (not sips) as it paired tremendously well with steak. Normally (ahem a rule) I would prefer pairing Napa cab with steak for the Napa fruit (cassis) nose and structure to de-construct the fatty meat. To my surprise, this 2012 Delas was able to pair the steak so well with great garrigue herbal notes and earthy mushroom -- almost like drinking those good Right Bank wines from Bordeaux from top vintages (This experience has helped me to appreciate why in the past why Bordelais "hermitaged" their wines in bad vintages). The vibrancy from the 2012 acidity helps to balance out fatty protein and buttery hash brown chunky potatoes.
  
  Yes, it's definitely a food pairing wine and it definitely worked that night and worthy to write home about! :)
  
  Though it's a 10-year old wine, the color and structure is still vibrant and is still in the peaking phase for a few more years. I should probably dig out its 2009 Delas to try; but I will definitely still let its big brother 2010 Les Bessards sleep for 5 more years.
  
  Revised rating from 90 to 95 with range of 94-96.

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  3/25/2023 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points

  I think of this producer as modern, but this was a restrained and traditional-tasting Hermitage with olives, underbrush and smoked meats. Drank over 2 nights, it was slightly more lively on day one.

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  8/7/2022 - Gunman Likes this wine:

  Initial attack is red fruit: maybe black cherry, followed by the tannins, and then resolving into more traditional Syrah flavors: blackberry, black pepper. Acid and tannin components lead me to believe this has another 5-7 years where it will remain in balance, but it’s in a really nice spot right now. Served with brisket/chuck smash burgers and grilled corn.

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