Hermitage les Bessards 2009 Delas

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (99)

Delas's two luxury cuvees are both candidates for perfection. One of the vintage's greatest Hermitages is undeniably the 2009 Hermitage Les Bessards (a 900-case cuvee that comes from the estate's holdings in this famous Hermitage lieu-dit). Built like a skyscraper, it boasts a black/purple color as well as notes of barbecue smoke, burning embers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, white flowers and powdered rocks. Full-bodied, dense and enormous in the mouth with perfect harmony, this striking Hermitage needs a decade of cellaring and should age for 60+ years.

Winespectator (95)

Dense and chewy, with lots of espresso, loam and roasted apple wood notes that have yet to meld fully, backed by ganache, plum sauce and steeped blackberry notes. There's lots of grip on the finish, with violet and anise notes deeply buried. On the dark side of the spectrum for sure, but with superior range nonetheless.

BOW (9.25)