2019 Donelan Cuvée Moriah

The 2019 Cuvée Moriah is a blend of 51% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah, vinified with 40% whole clusters and matured for 22 months in 16% new oak. It's bursting with aromas of wild berry jam, white pepper and Angostura bitters, with plush floral and leathery undertones. The full-bodied palate is plush and juicy with concentrated, floral fruit and a long, perfumed finish that invites you in for another sip. 176 cases were made.

The 2019 Cuvée Moriah is packed with dark red/purplish fruit, spice, tobacco, and strong brambly notes. The Mourvèdre and Syrah feel quite expressive in this year’s blend, while the 45% whole clusters add quite a bit of earthiness and overall nuance. More than anything else, the 2019 impresses with its impeccable balance. Give the tannins a few years to soften.

A deep but transparent ruby, the 2019 Cuvee Moriah is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. It opens to pure and inviting wild berries, herbes de Provence, pepper, and mocha aromas, followed by a juicy red with good structure in its fresh earth notes, herbs, ripe red and black berries, and incense on the back palate. It has ripe tannins and a good snap of acidity on the finish to close the wine. Drink 2023-2030. Joe Donelan came to the wine world after he received what he calls “a life-changing education” from a sommelier on Nantucket in the 1980s. Today he is joined by his two sons, Tripp and Cushing, who oversee sales and marketing respectively. David Milner has been the head winemaker since 2017 after previously working at Groth and Eisele Vineyard. Donelan himself has worked with the Obsidian Vineyard in Knights Valley since 2001 and was able to purchase the site in 2015. Sadly, in 2017, the vineyard fell victim to that year’s fires, but 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, although they are wines with finesse and elegance. I am especially a fan of the wines they’re producing in the cooler Bennett Valley. The wines for this report were tasted at their Santa Rosa winery in May.