Delas Frères - Saint-Joseph LES CHALLEYS Blanc 2020

A brilliant, green gold colour.
The nose shows very pure floral aromas that mingle with citrus and preserved fruit.
On the palate, the wine has similar flavours, with an added touch of honey.
Its finish is clean and clear, with flavours of flowers and fresh almonds.

This cuvée is the result of a blend of wines from the terroirs of Sainte- Epine, Mauves et Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf.

Average production: 15,000 bottles (75 cl.) per year.
Grape varieties : 80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne.

SAINT-JOSEPH

Vineyards : the vineyard stretches from Chavanay in the north, to Guilherand in the south, over about fifty kilometers along the right bank of the Rhône: it covers 23 "communes" in the Ardèche region, and 3 in the Loire.

Soils : the soils consist of light schist and gneiss over a granite bedrock.

Climate : the climate is moderately continental, with hot and dry summers, and normal rainfall the rest of the year.

Exposure : south and south-east

History : this wines was reputed in the 16th century for its delicacy, and was poured at the table of the kings of France. It was the Jesuits (a monk community) of Tournon who gave the area its current name, in the 17th century. Between 1956 and 1969, all the vineyards from this area which were used to be named Côtes du Rhône have been regrouped and established under the appellation Saint-Joseph.

Surface area under production : 1,095 hectares (2 705 acres), for an annual crop of 40,000 hectolitres (444,444 cases). Authorized maximum yield is 40 hectolitres/hectare (2.3 US tons/acre).