2010 Obsidian Vineyard Syrah
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard is a total blockbuster, and one of my favorite vintages of this cuvée. Deep, inky, black, and full-bodied, with awesome notes of black olives, cured bacon, cedary spice, and loads of black fruits, this beauty has no hard edges, incredible purity, and a huge finish. It’s another wine readers should not miss. This is another brilliant lineup of wines from the Donelan Family, with the wines made by Joe Nielson. While their estate Obsidian Vineyard was lost in the fires last year, they’re already in the process of planning and replanting the site, and I was thrilled to taste through a small retrospective from what’s unquestionably one of the great terroirs in California. Looking at the 2015s, which are by and large the current releases, these are structured, tannic wines that are going to benefit from short term cellaring.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Medium garnet in color, the 2010 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard gives up plenty of evolving black and blue fruits with earthy layers and dried herbs plus a savory waft. Medium-bodied, firm, chewy and with plenty of freshness to support the earthy fruit, it makes for a lovely glass right now.
Talk about a wine that has blossomed beautifully in bottle. Layers of blue and black fruit explode from the glass as the 2010 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard shows off its personality. A rich, headspinning wine, the 2010 captivates all the senses with a rush of intense dark fruit. Violets, menthol, licorice, smoke and spices all flesh out as this majestic Syrah shows off the full breadth of its personality. Wild, animal and brooding, the 2010 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. This is a fabulous Syrah, and the best wine I have ever tasted from Donelan. The 2010 spent 24 months in French oak barrels, 50% new.
The 2010 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard, from a site in Knights Valley, stays remarkably light on its feet for such a big wine. Hints of sweet tobacco, savory herbs, licorice, black cherries all waft from the glass. The 2010 is fascinating in the way it is both powerful yet not at all heavy. Bacon fat, savory herbs, licorice and tobacco reappear on the striking, nuanced finish. In 2010, the Obsidian is dazzling. Here, too, winemaker Tyler Thomas employed 100% whole clusters and a fairly low (35%) use of new oak.