Delmas, “SJR Vineyard” Syrah

Today promises to be a thrilling day for many. For years, we’ve discussed the dichotomy of “New World vs. Old World” Syrah in great detail, but we find the best way to learn about the nuances of wine is through firsthand experience. Accordingly, we’ve drummed up two extremely special yet drastically different micro-cuvées that are guaranteed to provide profound enlightenment while also delivering one of Syrah’s most fascinating one-two punches. First up, we have a surprise second allocation of a sellout from nearly one year ago: The wine is Delmas’ 2018 “SJR Vineyard,” an opulent juggernaut that stands calmly alongside America’s most expensive and wildly sought-after Syrahs like Sine Qua Non, Colgin, and Cayuse’s “Bionic Frog.” We’re in “The Rocks” in northeastern Oregon, a red-hot region that Wine Spectator calls “the most distinctive in the United States.” An appellation within an appellation within an appellation, this tiny, terroir-specific (basalt) AVA is planted to fewer than 40