It is always a treat tasting side by side with Delmas founder Steve Robertson and winemaker Billo Naravane, MW. Robertson planted his ‘SJR Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks District back in 2007, as this site is set on massive cobblestones. The vineyard is planted to mainly Syrah but also has a small portion of Viognier and Grenache planted as well. Steve’s daughter, Brooke Robertson, meticulously farms this vineyard. Standing in the vineyard with Steve this week, the vineyard is thriving with its bright green leaves and beautiful canopies. Recently the Robertsons have added Cinsault and Mourvèdre to the mix in the vineyard. Billo Naravane, MW, has consistently crafted some thrilling wines that show insanely good flavor and aromatic range.
Delmas first crafted their Oregon and Walla Walla Valley Syrah with the cool 2010 vintage which is showing quite nicely even today.
I adored the new 2020 Delmas Syrah (OB, 96) which is completely different from the 2018 but is every bit as good. This is a richer style of Delmas, more akin to the 2018 bottling — yet is all its own. The wine is clean with beautiful stony character and serious range. They have a new wine that has some Cinsault and Mourvèdre blended in, the MV Delmas “Field Blend’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is very high-toned and red fruit-driven, with spicy and stony notes. Learn more about these very special wines at https://delmaswines.com Here is my review of the new Delmas wines (fall 2022 release).
2020 Delmas Viognier- The 2020 Delmas Viognier is a rich and unctuous, yet well-structured bottling that was made in the Condrieu style. Stored in 50% new French oak for fourteen months, this was given battonage every two weeks prior to bottling. Honeysuckle and gardenia flowers combine with shades of honeydew melon and white peach on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a great mineral backbone. Finishing exceedingly long, this is an opulent, unique rendition that is already beautifully evolved and will contuse to provide drinking enjoyment for another eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 95
MV Delmas ‘Field Blend’ Red Wine- This combines the 2020 and 2021 vintages, as this is a field blend of Grenache and Syrah with a touch of Cinsault and Mourvèdre. The nose is very high-toned and spicy with exotic spices, guava and shades of smoldering stones. The palate shows a beautiful purity of red fruits, with salty and stony undertones alongside kumquat rind and Asian spices. There is quite simply nothing like this. Drink 2022-2030- 95
2020 Delmas ‘The Peddler’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘The Peddler’ is a magnum only bottling that was stored in 100% new French oak. The toasty oak components are lovely, as this pops with roasted dates, rich dark currants and smoked BBQ beef ribs. The palate is seamless and elegant with a silky texture and glorious length. The combination of weight and finesse is exceedingly gratifying, with plenty of stony undertones. Only 100 magnums made of this beautiful Syrah. Drink 2022-2034- 96
2020 Delmas Syrah- The 2020 Delmas Syrah is one of the great wines from this vintage that I have tasted in the past year. Picked before the smoke in 2020, the wine is a blend of Syrah and Viognier (8.2%) that was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling in February 2022. The nose is hedonistic and highly complex with hoisin sauce, blackberry pie, smoked brisket, green olive tapenade, Nori and suggestions of white pepper dusted bacon. The heady aromas bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is soft and inviting with a pillowy texture that shows no rough edges, as this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. The finish just won’t quit. Enjoy this beauty over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 96
2021 Delmas Viognier (Barrel Sample) (95-97)
2021 Delmas Syrah (Barrel Sample) (97-99)
2021 Delmas ‘The Peddler’ Syrah (Barrel Sample) (97-99)