THE VINTAGE
2021 is a vintage marked by freshness, which is similar to the vintages we had in the eighties and nineties. It is also what we call a "winegrower vintage", human intervention and the care given to the vines were decisive for the quality of the vintage. Marked by climatic vagaries, with an episode of frost in April and interrupted harvest because of rain, this year has indeed required constant investment from our teams in the vineyard. Their attention and their commitment have borne their fruit: this vintage is very promising with lots of freshness and great balance.
AGEING
From the month of August onwards we carry out maturity checks and taste the berries regularly to determine the optimum harvest date. Each grape variety is harvested separately. On arrival at the cellar the berries are sorted. Part of the Syrah is vinified in whole clusters and the remainder, plus the Grenache, is destemmed. Vinification is in wooden and stainless-steel vats using the same methods as for the Château de Beaucastel wines. The wines are then tasted to determine the blend, and finally aged in foudres for 2 years.
VARIETALS
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
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BLEND 100% Chardonnay coming from seven vineyard blocks located in the sub-regions of Omaka, Brancott, Rapaura and Renwick. Vine age: 15 to 25 years.STYLE The Cloudy Bay Chardonnay balances New World fruit with Old World restraint. When young, the Chardonnay is vibrant and intense, with white stone fruit, citrus and oral characters melding with subtle oak. With time, the wine takes on a more savoury aspects, melding the fruit core with savoury notes of grilled nuts and brioche, as well as spice. This wine can also be cellared for up to 10- 15 years. FOOD PAIRING EXAMPLES Richly avoured seafood dishes, white and pink meats.
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TASTING NOTES The colour is a straw yellow, with green tinges. This Condrieu has layers of amazingly powerful and complex aromas: violets, apricots, peaches, honey and dried fruit. On the palate, these exuberant flavours are rich, powerful, and highly seductive, with an unctuous texture and a mass of exotic fruit on the finish. CHARACTERISTICS This cuvée is a blend from 4 vineyard plots: Vérin, Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, Chavanay and Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf. Average Delas production: 13,000 bottles (75 cl.) per year. Grape variety : Viognier 100%. WINE MAKING After hand-picking, the grapes travel to the winery in small boxes. Gentle pressing produces a must that is fermented at low temperatures 61-64°F (16 to 18°C) within temperaturecontrolled vats in order to make the most of the complex aromas of the Viognier variety. Each year, a variable part of the crop is fermented (20% max.) in new oak casks. MATURING Right after the malolactic fermentation, the wine is racked and then aged fine lees, in order to improve the richness of its structure, while keeping its exceptional varietal aromas. Bottling takes place around mid-April.FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGAsparagus, steamed fish in a butter sauce, lemon chicken.
