Team C&J
Walla Walla’s Delmas wines are highly allocated; there’s no shortage of wine lovers clamoring to get their hands on these refined Oregon wines. Rather than lean into a palate that prioritizes power, these wines are known for their elegant finesse and ability to showcase the unique terroir of the Rock District AVA.
Steve and Mary Robertson took the plunge into the wine business back in 2007 when they created Delmas Wines. The project was inspired by their time in Napa Valley and their dream to leave a legacy for their children to step into.
While Steve and Mary have passed the winemaking duties to their daughter, Brooke, the couple still manages the day-to-day operations of the brand. Mary, an avid painter, steers the design of each bottle’s label and oversees the marketing and sales distribution. Steve, on the other hand, is in charge of the finances and business development.
The Robertson’s plan with their Oregon wine brand, Delmas, was always to make this new venture a multi-generational family company. In other words, the plan was to pass what they started into the very capable hands of their daughter, Brooke Delmas Roberston.
Thankfully, Brooke shared her parents passion for all things wine and jumped headfirst into learning everything she could about viticulture. In addition to a BA in Philosophy from Oregon State University and an AAAS degree in Enology and Viticulture from Walla Walla Community College, Brook has a Master’s degree in Viticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and obtained a UC Davis winemaking certificate!
As if that wasn’t evidence enough that she knows wine, Brooke also serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Winegrower Association, representing Eastern Oregon.
Brooke took over as the head winemaker in June 2023. The bottle of 2018 Delmas SJR Vineyard Syrah we opened was created by former head winemaker Billo Naravane.
When the Robertson family made the decision to throw their lives into building a wine brand and purchasing a vineyard, they didn’t want to, essentially, take over someone else’s project. Wine brands have a few options when it comes to sourcing their fruit. They can:
Each option has its own risks and rewards, particularly if you’re a new winemaker. For Mary and Steve Robertson, the choice was easy. They wanted complete control over the growing process, which would allow them to farm the grapes the way they wanted and craft single-vineyard wines.
In 2007, they found the perfect 13-acre plot and planted what would become the SJR Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley’s Rocks District AVA.
Ready for an interesting wine geek fact about The Rocks District AVA? According to Delmas, “The Rocks District is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries (96%) are dictated by a single soil series (Freewater Series) and a single landform (alluvial fan). TTB approval of this 5.9 square mile (3,767 acres) AVA within Walla Walla Valley was granted in 2015.” The SJR Vineyard is planted with Syrah, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault grapes. As of this writing in 2023, SJR Vineyard had produced its 14th vintage.
510 cases of the 2018 Delmas Syrah were produced, and after tasting this wine, we have a feeling that those bottles went quickly. The wine is a blend of 91.3% Syrah and 8.7% Viognier from the family’s own SJR Vineyard. Like all bottles of Delmas wine, the grapes were sustainably produced.
When we sampled this wine, our first impression was that the team at Delmas knows their stuff. This Syrah is showy, without being too powerful on the palate, and exemplifies why the Rocks District is such a prized growing site for Rhone-inspired Syrahs.
Aromas of blackberries, boysenberries, and slightly sweet fruitcakes dance from the glass. Spice and botanical elements like cedar, cigar box, and lavender inspire curiosity.
Fruit takes the lead on the palate. Sun-ripened boysenberry, savory olive, and spicy black pepper are classic marks of this grape. A flurry of spice and herbs completes the palate with soft notes of licorice, cedar, and mint.
From the perfumed nose to the luxurious, berry, and spice-rich palate, the 2018 Delmas SJR Vineyard Syrah sings with potential. This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for a special occasion. We loved this Walla Walla wine to the last drop, and we think you will, too.
USA
Walla Walla
Syrah
14.5
Brooke Delmas Robertson & Billo Naravane
62–68°F / 16–20°C
Large Bordeaux
60 Minutes
Now to 2030
Delmas SJR
All things wine, and food you could ever need or want — straight to your email!
