2018 Cuvee Christine Syrah

Blended from across several sites, the 2018 Syrah Cuvee Christine is fresh with mineral aromas of dusty earth, blackberry, and violet. The palate is soft and airy, with delicate black plum and turned earth. It is a lovely, classic expression of Syrah to drink now or over the next 5-6 years. Joe Donelan came to the wine world from the perspective of a sommelier, where he had worked at Toppers on Nantucket in the 1980s. This year marks his 23rd vintage, with his two sons, Tripp and Cushing, overseeing sales and marketing respectively. David Milner has been the head winemaker since 2017 after previously working at Groth and Eisele Vineyard. Having worked with the Obsidian Vineyard in Knights Valley since 2001, Donelan was able to purchase the site in 2015. In 2017, the vineyard was victim to that year’s fires, so they have since put a new emphasis on replanting with greater vine density. The style of the estate certainly does not shy away from ripeness, though they are wines with finesse and elegance. I am especially a fan of the wines they are producing in the cooler Bennett Valley.

The 2018 Syrah Cuvée Christine is dark, flavorful and exceptionally beautiful. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender and leather are some of the many notes that flesh out in a Syrah that hits all the notes. There's maybe a touch of sweetness from the oak that is not typically found in these wines, but that is a relatively small critique, especially for a wine meant to be enjoyed upon release. The Cuvée Christine delivers the goods. I would give the tannins a few years to soften. The blend is composed of top sites in Knights Valley, Green Valley, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley.