Delas : Sainte Epine 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Sainte Epine 2020 from Delas

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance reveals a deep ruby color with purple reflections.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex and multidimensional bouquet. Aromas of blackcurrant and ripe dark berries intertwine with notes of fresh violet. The characteristic minerality of the granitic terroir is expressed through nuances of crushed stone. Delicately woody touches complete the aromatic ensemble. With aeration, smoky and slightly spicy notes gradually unfold.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is rich, complete, and remarkably balanced. The attack presents a beautiful fruity roundness supported by a polished and refined tannic structure. The palate unfolds a complex layering of evolving flavors: blackcurrant, bitter and spicy black cherry, crushed violet, black licorice. Subtle nuances of smoke, damp earth, ground coffee, and ground black pepper enrich the tasting experience. Well-integrated acidity supports the generous fruit without dominating the overall balance. The finish stretches long on floral, smoky, and mineral notes of remarkable persistence.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Saint-Joseph is an ideal accompaniment to game such as deer, wild boar, or wild poultry. It also pairs perfectly with beef in sauce, grilled meats, or preparations with green peppers. Characterful cheeses also make excellent pairings.

Service and Cellaring

Decanting for one to three hours is recommended to allow the Sainte Epine 2020 to fully express its aromatic complexity. This structured wine can be enjoyed now but will evolve beautifully until around 2039. Some tasters even estimate its aging potential up to around 2060.

An exceptional Saint-Joseph from a unique granitic terroir in the Rhône Valley

The Estate

Founded in 1835 in Tournon-sur-Rhône, Delas Frères is a historic House in the Northern Rhône Valley. Acquired in 1993 by the Louis Roederer group, the estate underwent a major qualitative transformation driven by oenologist Jacques Grange, who arrived in 1997. Today managed by Marc Hoellinger since 2022, Delas Frères cultivates 30 hectares of vines distributed between Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage. The House has reoriented itself towards an approach favoring the expression of parcel terroirs and balance rather than brute power, producing highly characterized single-vineyard wines.

The Vineyard

The Sainte-Épine plot extends over approximately one hectare in Saint-Jean de Muzols, in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. This exceptional micro-terroir benefits from a southern exposure on soils of decomposed granite mixed with metamorphic schist, a composition recalling the famous Les Bessards slope of Hermitage. The immediate proximity of the Doux, a tributary of the Rhône, creates a particularly cool microclimate during the summer thanks to river breezes and increased nocturnal cooling. This characteristic allows the vines to retain superior natural acidity and remarkable balance. Only the Delas Frères team is authorized to harvest this historic plot, formerly the property of the Commanderie de Sainte-Épine-Lès-Tournon belonging to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The vineyard benefits from the High Environmental Value certification.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage represents an excellent year in the northern Rhône Valley. The season began with abundant winter rains in late 2019, followed by a mild and dry spring favoring early budburst and flowering. No spring frost affected the region. The summer proved to be extremely sunny, hot, and arid, without however reaching the excessive temperature peaks of the previous 2019 vintage. Cool nights alternating with hot days played a decisive role in regulating vine temperatures and preserving natural acidity. The harvest, among the earliest since 2003, began in early September under optimal conditions, with no rot pressure. The 2020 wines manifest a more restrained and better-balanced character than the three previous vintages, with remarkably persistent acidity and all the markers of great aging potential.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for the Sainte Epine 2020 are harvested manually at optimal maturity. After three days of cold pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation takes place in traditional open concrete tanks. Maceration continues at regulated temperatures between 28°C and 30°C, with daily cap punching and pumping over for about ten days, for a total maceration period reaching up to twenty days. Aging takes place for fourteen to eighteen months in 228-liter Burgundy oak barrels, evenly split between new barrels and one-year-old barrels. This cuvée is produced exclusively during vintages identified as exceptional.

Grape

100% Syrah