Deep purple-red hue with a complex bouquet of violets, licorice, damson plums, blackberry, grilled herbs, bacon fat, smoldering incense, and dark chocolate. Richly textured and lively on the palate with well delineated notes of black plum, raspberry, truffles, nutmeg, licorice, white pepper, and stony minerality. Subtle hints of espresso, sage, and vanilla are also present. The long, persistent finish echoes tones of blackberry, truffles, and stony minerality. This wine nicely showcases all of the amazing attributes of the SJR vineyard: elegance, harmony, finesse, and a riveting sense of place. As many of the Delmas predecessors, this wine satisfies the intellect as well as the palate. Patience will be rewarded; this wine should reach a lovely phase of maturity in 7-9 years and will hold for approximately 15+ years.

92.5% Syrah, 7.5% Viognier from SJR Vineyard

450 Cases Produced

Vinous 95 Points: “Full dark red. Pungent spicy lift to the aromas of raspberry, boysenberry, smoked meat, grilled herbs, rose petal and red licorice complicated by white pepper and black olive; coffee and mocha notes emerged with extended aeration. Really remarkably aromatic Syrah: supple, savory and concentrated, conveying strong Rocks salinity to its flavors of raspberry, plum, cured meats, spices and flowers. Shows a strong resemblance to the 2017 but that’s hardly a surprise as Steve Robertson’s wine comes entirely from the parcels of Syrah that he originally planted in 2007. Enticing sweetness and broad, ripe tannins give this seamless wine early accessibility but it has the energy and stuffing for mid-term aging. Really spreads out to saturate the palate on the long finish. This quintessential Rocks Syrah was even silkier with extended aeration. Incidentally, Robertson will make his first varietal Grenache from the 2020 harvest, from a one-acre parcel that he also planted in 2007 (i.e., its 14th leaf).”