Delas Freres   Hermitage les Bessards

2009 Hermitage les Bessards

By Delas Freres

A Masterpiece: The 2009 Hermitage les Bessards from Delas Freres, Rhone

If there was ever a symphony composed in vinous form, it would certainly be the 2009 Hermitage les Bessards from Delas Freres. Hailing from the exquisite uphill slopes of Northern Rhone, this prestigious cuvee is a testament not only to Hermitage's unforgiving terroir but also to the grape-makers' indefatigable efforts amid unprecedented climatic conditions.

 

Vintage Vulnerability and Victory

In the world of wine investment, patience rewards. The 2009 vintage, despite its youthful ebullience in the glass, narrates a tale of adversity eloquently overcome. Rhone saw a scorching summer that year, exposing the grapes to dramatic daytime heat while relieving them with cooling nocturnal breezes.

Consequently, the berries developed an intense concentration of dark fruits to shadow the shimmering strength of syrah's natural acidity. This wine from Delas Freres gives connoisseurs an interesting glimpse into climate's profound impact on viticulture and consequent wine nuances.

 

Tasting Notes for Your Investment Portfolio

The 2009 Hermitage les Bessards has an unmistakably bold soul wrapped in an elegant silhouette. It leads with an aromatic orchestra of ripe cherry and blackberry tones underlaid by sweeping minerality and spicebox whimsy.

A sip is akin to a spirited waltz across your palate. As rich dark fruits pirouette around nuanced flavours of violets and crushed rock, it rounds off with firm tannins composing a splendidly structured finish.

 

Why Invest in 2009 Hermitage les Bessards from Delas Freres

Despite its hedonistic appeal, the potential of this wine stretches well beyond indulgence. As a cornerstone in any investment portfolio, it evidences not only the exquisite crafting techniques of Delas Frères but also Rhone's monumental 2009 vintage.

This wine bridges the duality of instant gratification and long-term viability. It enfolds within it the allure of collectability alongside its capacity to ferment financial returns much like its commanding flavours. It is indeed a compelling harmony of pleasure and profit, one that is sure to enchant the sophisticated wine investor.

Current market price

£2,270.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

113.5

Scores and tasting notes

100

Every bit as profound as the 2010, yet in a more voluptuous, lower acid, hedonistic style, the inky colored 2009 Hermitage les Bessards (aged all in new French oak) offers incredible intensity and depth in its black raspberry, toasted bread, graphite and spice-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, massively endowed and with a wealth of raw material, it has high, yet sweet tannin and a finish that just won't quit. Give it 4-5 years and drink it over the following 3-4 decades. Unfortunately, this is made in tiny quantities, but count yourself lucky if you were able to grab a few bottles of either the '09 or '10.

Jeb Dunnuck - The Wine Advocate, 13 September 2015

Vintage performance