Few years since last bottle and I think it has moved but maybe not as much as expected If you have left your bottles and case this long then well done as is in good a place or better than ever. Getting proper Syrah notes on the nose and easier on palate Very enjoyable
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Probably did not fully appreciate this wine. PnP with a Coravin. Wine has a deep berry color, not much on the nose, good palate feel and there is the potential. Very dry finish. Will circle back in 6-9 months and fingers crossed it’s better, otherwise SELL.
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Popped and poured. Easy to see why Donelan considers this their flagship; it is excellent. Gorgeous black ruby and extremely viscous. Awesome nose reminiscent of the best Cote Rotie wines, with beautiful meaty, smoky, bacon fat aromas. What a bouquet!!! This is a really fantastic American Syrah, such as few can produce. Age has burnished this to a true beauty. The palate is a match, too. What a wonderful wine. This is one of the few American Syrahs that can match the French for sheer excitement and awe. BRAVO!!! 5-15-18-9: 97/100.
One hour decant. Fennel, anise, licorice, violets, blackberry, caramelized (burnt) molasses and slight white pepper. So much going on and all blending well together
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This is quite well done for Cali Syrah with a lovely Syrah perfume and delicious ripe dark berry fruit to go along with notes of black pepper and savory meats. Thickly-textured and quite layered with a smooth but firmly tannic Finish that shows a fine violet floral lift.
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Like a number of 12 and 13s from this producer I just feel it’s a little subdues and even closed down. Nose wasn’t that evident but lovely wine. Classic Rhône in many ways and not overly rich or extracted. Still silky juicy Californian but not overdone at all.
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The nose is somewhat closed but with coaxing shows notes of smoky black fruits, black pepper and other spices. On the palate, this is surprisingly closed in on itself and inaccessible but the style is very much Northern Rhone with notes of black pepper, dark fruits and licorice spice. There feels like a lot of good material here but this needs lots of time and I love the way it avoids the California sweetness that I so dislike. I'll save my other bottle for quite some time. 91+
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Explosive dark aromatics of blackberries, black cherries, black currant, tobacco, spices, tar and some smoke. It's full-throttle, full-bodied but again with impeccable balance of medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin. Great length. This was probably the richest, most full-bodied wine in the line-up.
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10/6/2023 - Mbad77 wrote: 94 Points
Few years since last bottle and I think it has moved but maybe not as much as expected
If you have left your bottles and case this long then well done as is in good a place or better than ever. Getting proper Syrah notes on the nose and easier on palate
Very enjoyable
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8/10/2023 - jlgnml wrote: 88 Points
Probably did not fully appreciate this wine. PnP with a Coravin. Wine has a deep berry color, not much on the nose, good palate feel and there is the potential. Very dry finish. Will circle back in 6-9 months and fingers crossed it’s better, otherwise SELL.
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5/21/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 97 Points
Popped and poured. Easy to see why Donelan considers this their flagship; it is excellent. Gorgeous black ruby and extremely viscous. Awesome nose reminiscent of the best Cote Rotie wines, with beautiful meaty, smoky, bacon fat aromas. What a bouquet!!! This is a really fantastic American Syrah, such as few can produce. Age has burnished this to a true beauty. The palate is a match, too. What a wonderful wine. This is one of the few American Syrahs that can match the French for sheer excitement and awe. BRAVO!!! 5-15-18-9: 97/100.
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6/6/2021 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 98 Points
One hour decant. Fennel, anise, licorice, violets, blackberry, caramelized (burnt) molasses and slight white pepper. So much going on and all blending well together
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7/21/2020 - DaninClearwater wrote: 95 Points
Donelan never disappoints
lovely, rich syrah
plenty of life left
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6/3/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is quite well done for Cali Syrah with a lovely Syrah perfume and delicious ripe dark berry fruit to go along with notes of black pepper and savory meats. Thickly-textured and quite layered with a smooth but firmly tannic Finish that shows a fine violet floral lift.
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12/1/2019 - Mbad77 wrote: 94 Points
Nose and palate much more giving than previous bottles - very promising and no rush to drink.
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1/1/2019 - Mbad77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Like a number of 12 and 13s from this producer I just feel it’s a little subdues and even closed down. Nose wasn’t that evident but lovely wine. Classic Rhône in many ways and not overly rich or extracted. Still silky juicy Californian but not overdone at all.
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4/7/2018 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine:
Not a great showing tonight. Not much depth at all. Would have guessed the alcohol much higher than 14.2 tonight. disappointed.
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12/14/2016 - dream Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose is somewhat closed but with coaxing shows notes of smoky black fruits, black pepper and other spices. On the palate, this is surprisingly closed in on itself and inaccessible but the style is very much Northern Rhone with notes of black pepper, dark fruits and licorice spice. There feels like a lot of good material here but this needs lots of time and I love the way it avoids the California sweetness that I so dislike. I'll save my other bottle for quite some time. 91+
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3/9/2016 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Explosive dark aromatics of blackberries, black cherries, black currant, tobacco, spices, tar and some smoke. It's full-throttle, full-bodied but again with impeccable balance of medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin. Great length. This was probably the richest, most full-bodied wine in the line-up.
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10/16/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine! Low production. Very dark, rich, full bodied. Great fruit, oak, cherries, cola. Only had a small amount but really enjoyed it.
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