Farming will always be the keystone for Delmas. We believe that world-class wine is derived from estate vineyards—meticulously cultivated and sustainably farmed. For us, this is a family journey. From the start we’ve focused on involvement within the larger wine community, upping our game with every growing season and celebrating the work of our peers.
SEVENTEENTH LEAF A relatively mild winter, and perfectly timed rains. The heat showed up as expected in July and August and was consistent in Harvest. Climactically ideal in our little micro-climate of SJR Vineyard, all fruit was able to be harvest prior to the rains in late September. Brooke’s first vintage as head winemaker.
Potential of 830 cases produced; Possibility of five wines made.
SIXTEENTH LEAF An oddly warm start to the season, with temperatures in the 70’s in late March, we experienced a freak snow event in the middle of April and a cool and rainy Spring. The heat came just in time for the end of the summer with few heat spikes. Higher yields and lower alcohols were remarkably reminiscent of 2011. First vintage of the
B | D | R red blend.
A total of 1000 cases produced; four wines made.
FIFTEENTH LEAF A year of extremes… Hail and low temperatures into April began the growing season. Record heat over the summer, topping out at 115 degrees F by the end of June. The MHT vine structure protected the vines from sun exposure while maintaining adequate air flow throughout the canopy. Early harvest with low yields, the Grenache was able to ripen on time to pick near the end of September and create our first ever Multi-Vintage Field Blend.
A total of 280 cases produced; four wines made.
FOURTEENTH LEAF Consistent heat across the summer months and into harvest, made for beautifully concentrated fruit. Relatively low rain accumulation allowed us to begin taking steps in significantly decreasing the amount of irrigation at SJR Vineyard; thus, beginning our path towards making the vines more self-sustaining and potentially dry-farmed. Wildfire smoke rolled into the Valley by mid-September. Thankfully, we were harvested by this time. The first incarnation of Delmas Grenache was harvested.
A total of 500 cases produced; four wines made.
THIRTEENTH LEAF Heavy snow in February and March, but a good inversion layer leading to low usage of fans for freeze protection over the Winter. Steady heat through the summer with no real heat spikes. A relatively on-time harvest for Delmas, and in enough time for the vines to shut down before an early freeze occurring in mid-October. Very juicy year at the press, and our first official production of The Peddler Magnums. A small head-trained block of Cinsault is added to SJR Vineyard.
A total of 660 cases produced; three wines made.
TWELFTH LEAF Low snow accumulation over Winter meant an earlier start on irrigation to get the vineyard ready for the season. The heat was consistent through the summer months. Overhead sprinklers provided relief from the heat. An early harvest for Delmas Syrah, along with our first vintage of Viognier.
A total of 620 cases produced; two wines made.
ELEVENTH LEAF An extraordinarily cold winter, the vineyard sustained 70% bud-death and needed to, once again, be cut down and retrained. This tragedy culminated in the birth of the MHT (mini-head-trained) vine structure. Yields were low due to the restructuring of the vines. Qualitatively an outstanding vintage. An additional block of ENTAV 470 Syrah is added to SJR Vineyard.
A total of 350 cases produced; two wines made.
TENTH LEAF Another early warm year, with low rainfall. Consistent dappled light throughout the season pushed ripening to occur earlier than ever before. Temperatures cooled to “normal” over the summer and coasted into harvest, with deeply complex flavors. An additional block of Joseph Phelps Syrah is added to SJR Vineyard.
A total of 230 cases produced; one wine made.
NINETH LEAF Hottest year on record to date. Early bud-break, bloom, and harvest culminated in wonderful fruit quality. Larger canopies (due to constant irrigations), made for intense canopy management to allow for appropriate airflow and light penetration.
A total of 130 cases produced; one wine made.
EIGHTH LEAF Continuing the warming trend, temperatures stayed high through the Summer and into the Fall. Our chip budded ENTAV 470 clone of Syrah is added to the mix this year creating a more floral expression of our Syrah blend.
A total of 150 cases produced; one wine made.
SEVENTH LEAF Warmer temperatures during Spring and Summer made for earlier phenolic ripening and an earlier harvest for Delmas. Honing in on the Viognier percentage for our co-fermented Syrah, we increased this to 7% this year. Vineyard had to be cut down and retrained due to freezing temperatures. later this Winter.
A total of 150 cases produced; one wine made.
SIXTH LEAF Our first “normal” vintage, with heat units occurring consistently throughout the summer allowing the fruit to ripen by the middle of September. Dark, intensely fruit forward, yet incredible length on this wine.
A total of 50 cases produced; one wine made.
FIFTH LEAF Once again a cold and wet Spring, which delayed harvest until early October. Getting creative, we laid mylar (a reflective material) down the vine rows in late August to try and reflect more light/heat into the canopy. A winemaker’s year, and the lowest alcohol wine Delmas has made to date.
A total of 50 cases produced; one wine made.
FOURTH LEAF The first year Delmas produced One Ton of fruit from SJR Vineyard. A cool summer, and later ripening produced a highly phenolic beautifully succinct wine. The vineyard had to be cut down and retrained due to freezing temperatures later this Winter.
A total of 45 cases produced, one wine made.
