The Wine

Importantly, our first investment was the vineyard. Given the financial commitment and time it takes to properly mature a vineyard, it is not common practice today to invest in an estate vineyard. However, this is fundamental to controlling wine quality. We invested further in the vineyard’s infrastructure and management in an effort to control all facets of quality in the winemaking process. With a passion for making expressive wines that bring joy to the palate, we’re keen to fully realize the potential for growing the highest quality wine grapes and birthing wines true to their place of origin.


Tribute Series

Delmas introduces the Tribute Series, an intimate, 3-year journey to fully explore the winegrowing possibilities of SJR Vineyard, our estate-controlled vineyard. Beginning with the 2010 vintage, we have crafted a wine with feminine characteristics. This is a finesse wine with wonderfully perfumed aromatics followed by earthy minerality, silky tannins and crème brulee in the mouth.

We will explore the more masculine side of Syrah with the 2011 vintage. With input from Tribute Series customers, we’ll refine our approach for the 2012 vintage in order to arrive at the signature Delmas style. The distinctive “rock notes” found at SJR Vineyard will remain the constant stylistic thread in each vintage. Join us in this boutique wine venture, dedicated to excellence from the very beginning. Sign up for our waiting list.

Looking forward, our capacity for volume is limited by our desire to remain hands-on, the size of the crop load we will carry and the size of SJR Vineyard.


2010 Delmas Syrah Tasting Notes

The wine exhibits beautiful structure, complexity and length. The enticing bouquet offers kirsch, blackberry, earth, truffle, vanilla and a hint of lavender. The palate’s silky texture and very fine tannins envelop flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, vanilla, mint, minerals and earth. The resonant, silky, mineral-driven finish lingers for well over a minute. This elegantly structured Syrah is a testament to the unique terroir of “The Rocks” area within the Walla Walla Valley AVA.

93% Syrah | 4% Viognier | 3% Grenache from SJR Vineyard
53 Cases Produced & 45 Released 2012 (Summer)

TECHNICAL DETAILS

  • Alcohol 14.6%
  • pH 3.9
  • TA 5.6 g/L
  • Cold soak 96 hours
  • Punchdowns 2-3 times/day during fermentation
  • Aged sur lie for 8 months
  • Aged 15 months in French oak
  • Oak profile is 50% new French oak (Troncais) and 50% neutral French oak
  • 2 rackings approximately 6 months apart
  • Unfined
  • Unfiltered

Partners

SJR Vineyard supplies fruit to Gramercy Cellars and Rotie Cellars. To find out more about their wines and those wines made with SJR fruit, please check out their Web sites.

From Greg Harrington at Gramercy Cellars (gramercycellars.com)

"Although still a very young vineyard, SJR has already shown it has the potential to be named among the greats in Washington. It's classic rocks fruit. SJR Syrah took our 2009 John Lewis Syrah to the next level, adding Rhone like nuances. The potential of the entire property is just being realized. We look forward to a long relationship with the Robertson family and SJR Vineyard."

From Sean Boyd at Rotie Cellars (rotiecellars.com)

“The SJR 2010 Vintage Syrah is the best Syrah in our portfolio right now. We separated Block 1 Tall (B1T) and Block 3 Tall (B3T) these both placed 2nd and 3rd in our blind tasting June 10th, 2011. Both were 2nd and 3rd to the Short cordon (Shorty), which stole the show.

Steve and his crew are exceeding our expectations at Rotie Cellars with their concentrated, earth-driven Syrahs.”
Fruit First