Delas Saint Esprit Cotes du Rhone, 2007

This is one of my favorite Cotes du Rhone wines at this time, and, for my taste, the 2007 is drinking a bit better than the 2009 right now. That is likely to change over the next six months or so as the wines age..

Deep, dark, bluish--Syrah-like. Unlike your typical Cotes du Rhone, Delas Saint Esprit is strongly oriented toward Syrah (80% Syrah, 20% Grenache). The smells are deep and appealing--dark cherries, blue plums,  cassis. Reminds me of a good Crozes-Hermitage. Spices come through slowly--lavender, rosemary. Now I get the red cherry, floral qualities of a Cairanne from the Southern Rhone. Ripe fruit on the mid-palate and finish but also good acidity to keep it fresh.

The vintage on the shelves at the moment is the 2009; 2010 will follow soon. It sells for $10 to $12 at D&W and at Cost Plus World Market.