2017 Donelan Syrah Grande
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Syrah Grande is a three-barrel blend done in a bit riper style than the other Syrahs in the range, which means less stem influence and a touch more new oak, all of which yields a Syrah with plenty of soft curves and forward fruit. Best of all, the 2017 can be enjoyed pretty much upon release. The 2017 is a gorgeous wine and also a fine choice for readers who might find the cool-climate character in the other Syrahs a bit overpowering. Black cherry, chocolate, spice and new leather saturate the finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Syrah Grande is amplified with medicinal herbs, inky plum, leather, and oak spice. The palate is fleshy and full of velveteen texture as well as notes of boysenberry, iron-rich earth, and tobacco. Allow another 2-4 years in cellar and drink over the following 15 or more 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.