Ok so I feel pretty fortunate to have two of these. This was the first of two bottles I have that was opened tonight. This is a tale of two Syrahs. I will definitely say that I find it amazing that this one literally took two to three hours before I felt it was in the wheelhouse. Especially since lots of people discounted the 2011 vintage on a hole from California due to weather, etc. What this seems to have created, at least from my limited experience with Syrah, is a wine that still has amazingly complex structure and body, yet has the full spectrum from green pepper to herbs to roasted red fruits to roasted black fruits. Definitely no exception here. This one starts out with a nose of green olive, green pepper, roasted fruitcake and baking spices. The palate almost seems to be reverse: starts out with a fairly acidic character that did round out after a couple of hours. But the fruit was dominated by campfire roasted black cherries, figs and dates. Very 'in your face.' However, this one finished with more of a green pepper, green onion, green olive character that started to swirl with the fruity character of this wine which is quite complex. Donelan Syrahs on a whole don't seem to go the nitrogenous route, and for that I am very appreciative. Any good spot now, but I just can't help to think that this one did need some time to figure itself out. So, I don't know if it is just in a strange place as far as the development goes, or if it truly needs to hold even another four to five years, which is rather incredible to think that one of these could be dark and brooding and ridiculously mature yet still rambunctiously youthful at 15-16 years of age. Going to try to hold on to the other one for another few years, however I know curiosity will probably kill me within the next 6 to 12 months!
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I'm the outlier because these wines don't sit well with me. However, with this wine, we made a blueberry sauce to put on duck breast and the sauce was outstanding.
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Medium purple, intense aromas of blueberry, spices-spicy black pepper like, a bit mushrooms, but not very earthy, fennel, anise, full body, round jam like mid palate, the alcohol is very present, have to retry. Think it needs time
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Lovely wine, if a notch below the 2013 that I had last year. Pure Cali Syrah, lots of expressive blue and black fruit, molasses, dark chocolate, hint of nutmeg and full bodied, this stuff will stain your teeth purple. Not enough minerality or balance for me to give this a higher score but that's OK at this price point. Would be interested to try again if I could get it for under $50.
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2011 Obsidian Syrah. 350cs made. Medium to deep ruby color colorless rim. First into nose elegant acacia flower, then complex black and blue fruits mingling with peppers, smoked bacon, animal, minerals, some oak, crushed rock. Medium body on palate, this wine has good structure with good acidity and fine grained ripe tannins, more herbal and dark bs nose. Elegant yet concentrated, old world style. Very long satisfying finish. Approachable now, but for sure will be better in 2-3 years.
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Tasted at a big California tasting. Expressive and exotic aromatics of cinnamon, other sweet spices, dark berries, animalic notes and tobacco. Medium-full bodied and very dense, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin providing great structure for the bigger wine. Good length with some graphite notes on the finish. A very impressive Syrah that is like a blend of cold climate style with more opulent California fruit.
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A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just limited notes, but this is a beautiful wine with good black berry fruits, minerals, animals, vanilla, beautiful acidity and beautifully round tannin with a good bite. Full bodied. Already a pleasure and certainly good for cellaring at least until 2020.
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WCC Donelan Family Wines with Joe Donelan (Yono's Restaurant, Albany, NY): [Decanted at 4:30 and served from the decanter at around 9:15.] Complex nose of black fruit and stones. Thick rich harmonious. Serious stuff. A marvelous wine that comes in waves and has a bright future. 94-96 points.
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Tasting with Tripp Donelan at the winery. All of these 2011 Syrahs are ready to drink, almost pop and pour. They are lighter in style than usual. 9.3+ This was the highlight of the tasting, but at $90/bottle it should be. It is made from some of the oldest Syrah plantings in No Cali.
Color: garnet-purple N: Smoky oak, then blackberry liqueur M: bruleed vanilla/sugar notes, then more blackberry F: long & deep brambly black fruit (reminiscent of a great Zin). Tannic but approachable on pop&pour, unlike any Obsidian I've tasted prior (which require hours/days of decanting).
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2/27/2024 - rbmorse Likes this wine: 94 Points
MFLESH description is spot on. Wine is still going strong
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9/3/2023 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 89 Points
It is just too extracted/rich for my palate.
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2/16/2023 - stuartwh wrote: 98 Points
Dinner at quaIL. DRINKING VELVET
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1/20/2023 - stuartwh wrote:
Dinner at Bonterra with Cataldos
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9/13/2022 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
Ok so I feel pretty fortunate to have two of these. This was the first of two bottles I have that was opened tonight. This is a tale of two Syrahs. I will definitely say that I find it amazing that this one literally took two to three hours before I felt it was in the wheelhouse. Especially since lots of people discounted the 2011 vintage on a hole from California due to weather, etc. What this seems to have created, at least from my limited experience with Syrah, is a wine that still has amazingly complex structure and body, yet has the full spectrum from green pepper to herbs to roasted red fruits to roasted black fruits. Definitely no exception here. This one starts out with a nose of green olive, green pepper, roasted fruitcake and baking spices. The palate almost seems to be reverse: starts out with a fairly acidic character that did round out after a couple of hours. But the fruit was dominated by campfire roasted black cherries, figs and dates. Very 'in your face.' However, this one finished with more of a green pepper, green onion, green olive character that started to swirl with the fruity character of this wine which is quite complex. Donelan Syrahs on a whole don't seem to go the nitrogenous route, and for that I am very appreciative. Any good spot now, but I just can't help to think that this one did need some time to figure itself out. So, I don't know if it is just in a strange place as far as the development goes, or if it truly needs to hold even another four to five years, which is rather incredible to think that one of these could be dark and brooding and ridiculously mature yet still rambunctiously youthful at 15-16 years of age. Going to try to hold on to the other one for another few years, however I know curiosity will probably kill me within the next 6 to 12 months!
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1/31/2021 - ogres3 wrote:
I'm the outlier because these wines don't sit well with me. However, with this wine, we made a blueberry sauce to put on duck breast and the sauce was outstanding.
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7/30/2020 - Cipivts Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium purple, intense aromas of blueberry, spices-spicy black pepper like, a bit mushrooms, but not very earthy, fennel, anise, full body, round jam like mid palate, the alcohol is very present, have to retry. Think it needs time
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4/22/2020 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 88 Points
A little hot. Drank too early
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12/12/2019 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 92 Points
Lovely wine, if a notch below the 2013 that I had last year. Pure Cali Syrah, lots of expressive blue and black fruit, molasses, dark chocolate, hint of nutmeg and full bodied, this stuff will stain your teeth purple. Not enough minerality or balance for me to give this a higher score but that's OK at this price point. Would be interested to try again if I could get it for under $50.
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11/12/2019 - 1961Vintage wrote: 90 Points
Had solid fruit, just didn't seem to have the standard complexity of a Donelan product. Perhaps just the vintage.
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7/4/2019 - adnorthup Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything Syrah should be. Dark, delicious, pepper and fat. Drinking nice.
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11/29/2018 - kenv Likes this wine: 95 Points
WCC US Syrah Blind (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): [Double decanted for 2 hours the night before the tasting!] Big rich spicy red fruit. More complex and expressive than the previous wines. My #3 WOTN
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11/12/2017 - ogres3 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Gave it 90 minutes of air. Still don't get these wines. A bit of a struggle to finish a glass.
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8/25/2016 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 93 Points
2011 Obsidian Syrah. 350cs made.
Medium to deep ruby color colorless rim. First into nose elegant acacia flower, then complex black and blue fruits mingling with peppers, smoked bacon, animal, minerals, some oak, crushed rock. Medium body on palate, this wine has good structure with good acidity and fine grained ripe tannins, more herbal and dark bs nose. Elegant yet concentrated, old world style. Very long satisfying finish. Approachable now, but for sure will be better in 2-3 years.
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5/9/2015 - colinbell wrote: 93 Points
Fair bit on Tannin here. Will cellar well. Notes of cigar, leather, rich opulent wine. Well paired with rich meat dish.
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3/10/2015 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at a big California tasting. Expressive and exotic aromatics of cinnamon, other sweet spices, dark berries, animalic notes and tobacco. Medium-full bodied and very dense, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin providing great structure for the bigger wine. Good length with some graphite notes on the finish. A very impressive Syrah that is like a blend of cold climate style with more opulent California fruit.
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2/28/2015 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just limited notes, but this is a beautiful wine with good black berry fruits, minerals, animals, vanilla, beautiful acidity and beautifully round tannin with a good bite. Full bodied. Already a pleasure and certainly good for cellaring at least until 2020.
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5/29/2014 - kenv Likes this wine: 95 Points
WCC Donelan Family Wines with Joe Donelan (Yono's Restaurant, Albany, NY): [Decanted at 4:30 and served from the decanter at around 9:15.] Complex nose of black fruit and stones. Thick rich harmonious. Serious stuff. A marvelous wine that comes in waves and has a bright future. 94-96 points.
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3/1/2014 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasting with Tripp Donelan at the winery.
All of these 2011 Syrahs are ready to drink, almost pop and pour. They are lighter in style than usual.
9.3+
This was the highlight of the tasting, but at $90/bottle it should be. It is made from some of the oldest Syrah plantings in No Cali.
Color: garnet-purple
N: Smoky oak, then blackberry liqueur
M: bruleed vanilla/sugar notes, then more blackberry
F: long & deep brambly black fruit (reminiscent of a great Zin). Tannic but approachable on pop&pour, unlike any Obsidian I've tasted prior (which require hours/days of decanting).
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