Daniel Leonard

9.3

Really hitting its stride now. Beautifully integrated red fruits, smokey black fruits, leather and notes of minerally soil flow into moderate tannins and a lingering finish. — 3 years ago

Mariko Hart

9.0

Huge, bold wine with great terroir and black pepper finish. Fabulous with spicy food. Likely to age well. — 6 years ago

Tim Rogers

9.1

Top five favorites in walla walla. Billo makes good stuff. — 9 years ago

with Katy

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

This is the first year that Billo Naravane has made this incredible wine. The Grenache entirely aged in natural oak while the Syrah saw 20% new oak before bottling. The wine is a stunning blend of 71% Grenache with 29% Syrah which was entirely sourced from the ‘SJR Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Pretty red rose petals, red cherry candy and orange rind combine with shades of Hoisin sauce and Umami tones on this exotic nose. The palate is silky smooth with wonderful freshness and a great sense of elegance. The seamless effect on the mid-palate is nothing short of captivating, as is the exceedingly long finish that provides the crescendo. Vibrant and youthful, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade — but why wait? Drink 2020-2028- 96 — 4 years ago

Sam Hege

9.5

Well Billo, it looks like you really do know your stuff! Glad WSU has you on their faculty. Loved the balance between fruit and acid. Such a dark beautiful color and a super heavy mouth feel which just coated everything and let you savor it even longer! — 9 years ago

with Colton

Michael Davenport

9.3

Now to guess the winemaker! I'm think Billo Naravane of Rasa — 10 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

The 2016 Delmas Syrah is a head-turning wine that takes its seat at the high table in Washington Syrah. Sourced from the highly acclaimed SJR Vineyard, the Syrah is connected with 7.25% Viognier in the co-ferment and saw limited new oak prior to bottling. This instantly impressess as it exudes heady aromas of red currant jelly, cigar ash, blood orange rind, barn floor, crushed wet gravel and Asian spices which all come together beautifully and continue to bring you back to the glass for more. On the palate this silky, smooth and seductive red is well balanced and laced with flavors of cranberries, pomegranate, Mandarin orange, red cherry candy, peat moss and Umami. This has incredible range, precision, purity and focus from start to finish. Overall, this is a completely compelling wine from winemaker, Billo Naravane, which will cellar beautifully for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2030- 96 — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

100% Grenache. The wine name translates to "First Among Equals" Soft nose of florals, spice, blueberries, dark cherries, dark rich soils. The mouthfeel has soft and tannins are velvety. Medium body and tannins. Blueberries, dark cherries, strawberries and soft but deep, dark spice. Crushed rocks, good acidity and a beautifully, round elegant, lean finish. The aromatics on the nose of the Raza wines were amongst some of the best I've experienced...amazing florals! Billo who is part owner & Winemaker has an impressive resume. He last made Delmas wines before helping to start Raza. He just completed his "Masters of Wine;" which is not an easy task and there are less than 300 "Masters of Wine" in the world. Photos of; their tasting room and shots of their cellar. Raza is a small production producer at around 750 cases. — 7 years ago