Delas Freres Chateauneuf du Pape

Delas Frères Châteauneuf-du-Pape Haute Pierre is a Grenache-dominant Southern Rhône red wine bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scored 93 points by James Suckling on the 2020 vintage and 93 points by Wine Spectator on the 2018, this cuvée has built a consistent track record of critical recognition across multiple vintages, including a 94-point Robert Parker rating on the 2007.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône Valley, France  |  Style: Full-Bodied Red Blend  |  Producer: Delas Frères (Louis Roederer Group)

Production & Heritage

Delas Frères is a historic Northern Rhône négociant-house now owned by the Champagne Louis Roederer group, giving it access to significant resources while maintaining a Rhône-focused identity. For the Haute Pierre cuvée, grapes are sourced through long-term grower relationships spanning decades across the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation — vineyards distinguished by the famous large round stones known as galets roulés, which absorb daytime heat and radiate it back onto the vines at night, promoting full ripeness. The fruit is crushed, destemmed, and fermented in open cement tanks over roughly ten days with an additional eight to ten days of maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation in vat and aging for 14 months in large 60-hectoliter oak tuns — a vessel size that imparts subtle structure without dominating the wine's fruit character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with deep, meaty and earthy tones before layering in candied bitter orange, sandalwood, and dried garrigue herbs. Swirling reveals darker currents of plum compote and a subtle juniper-like spice.

Taste: The entry is rich and unctuous, immediately coating the palate with concentrated dark plum, raspberry, and boysenberry compote flavors. At mid-palate the wine shows a lightly mulled edge with pronounced licorice-like intensity. Tannins are dense but finely crafted and well-integrated, providing a tightly-knit framework rather than any harsh grip.

Finish: Long, harmonious, and persistent, with trailing notes of warm spice, dried herbs, and a gentle earthy undertone. The fruit and structure remain in balance through the final moments, leaving a satisfying savory impression.

How to Drink Haute Pierre

Serve at 60–65°F (16–18°C) and consider decanting for 30 to 60 minutes, particularly in younger vintages where the dense tannins benefit from air. Haute Pierre is fundamentally a food wine built around the dinner table. It pairs exceptionally with braised lamb shanks seasoned with herbes de Provence, where the garrigue character in the wine mirrors the herbs on the plate. Slow-roasted pork shoulder with a fig glaze draws out the wine's dark fruit and licorice depth. Grilled duck breast with a cherry reduction highlights the boysenberry and plum compote notes while standing up to the wine's structure.

Best For

• A Saturday night dinner party centered around roasted or braised red meats
• Gifting a Rhône Valley enthusiast who appreciates traditional winemaking
• Building a cellar of age-worthy Southern Rhône reds
• Exploring Châteauneuf-du-Pape without committing to top-tier pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Haute Pierre taste like? Haute Pierre delivers rich, concentrated flavors of dark plum, boysenberry compote, and licorice wrapped in a dense but well-integrated tannic framework. Earthy garrigue herbs, sandalwood, and candied bitter orange add layers of complexity.

How does Haute Pierre compare to other Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines? Compared to neighboring Lirac AOC wines, which share similar grape varieties and terroir, Haute Pierre typically shows greater concentration and tannic density thanks to Châteauneuf-du-Pape's galet-covered soils and stricter appellation standards. Against other Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings, it positions as a reliably well-scored mid-range option — less expensive than single-vineyard cuvées from estates like Château Beaucastel, but showing serious depth for its tier.

Is Haute Pierre good for cellaring? Yes — the dense tannic structure and concentrated fruit profile suggest a drinking window that extends well beyond release, with top vintages like the 94-point 2007 demonstrating the wine's ability to develop over a decade or more.

Where is Haute Pierre made? Haute Pierre is produced by Delas Frères from vineyards in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Southern Rhône Valley, France. The house itself is headquartered in the Northern Rhône at Saint-Jean-de-Muzols near Tournon-sur-Rhône, but sources grapes for this cuvée from long-standing grower partners in the southern appellation.

What foods pair well with Haute Pierre? Braised lamb with rosemary complements the wine's herbal garrigue character. Slow-cooked beef daube echoes its earthy, meaty depth. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese highlights the tannic structure without overwhelming the fruit. Duck confit with lentils mirrors the wine's richness and savory finish. Provençal ratatouille served alongside grilled sausages ties into the wine's Southern French origin.

What sizes does Haute Pierre come in? Delas Frères Châteauneuf-du-Pape Haute Pierre is most commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Haute Pierre worth the price? Haute Pierre positions as a mid-range Châteauneuf-du-Pape, sitting below prestige single-estate bottlings but delivering consistent 90-to-93-point critical scores vintage after vintage. For drinkers seeking appellation-typical character from a reliable producer backed by the Louis Roederer group's resources, it represents strong value within the category.

Why Haute Pierre?

What distinguishes Haute Pierre from a crowded Châteauneuf-du-Pape field is the combination of Delas Frères' decades-long grower relationships and a production approach — cement-tank fermentation plus large-format oak aging — that prioritizes terroir expression over winemaker intervention. The wine has earned 93 points from both James Suckling and Wine Spectator in recent vintages, and the 2007 reached 94 points from Robert Parker, confirming this is not a one-off success but a consistently well-made cuvée. Owned by the Champagne Louis Roederer group, Delas Frères brings serious investment and quality control to a house that has quietly operated in the Rhône for generations. For anyone seeking a Southern Rhône red that delivers the full garrigue-scented, galet-driven power of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with proven critical credibility, Haute Pierre earns its place on the shortlist.