Reviews & Ratings

2011 Donelan Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French) "Obsidian Vineyard"

Winery: Donelan

Vintage: 2011

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Obsidian Vineyard"

Wine Category: Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French)

Grape blend: 100% Syrah

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Knights Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $65

Cases produced: 350

KWG Score: 92 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: January 28, 2014

Wine Review: This dark ruby colored Syrah opens with a musty mild oak and root beer bouquet with a hint of black cherry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a cola and gentle oak blend with notes of mild black cherry and a hint of plum. The finish is dry and its moderate well managed tannins linger for quite some time. The panel suggested pairing this very nice Syrah with Kona encrusted NY strip steak. Enjoy - KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: A testament to truly distinctive terroir, Obsidian vineyard is a constant variable – dense, concentrated, and enticing. Consistent with the past two vintages, the wine was slow to evolve aromatically and in its new home in bottle, has begun to stretch its legs, expressing flavors of tobacco, lilac, licorice, cherries, and mineral components that form a natural association with the volcanic rock the vines grow in. Despite the comparatively cooler 2011 vintage, this iteration of Obsidian has as much structure and power as the 2010, while offering a fuller mid-palate, making the wine feel more complete than previous vintages.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Donelan 2011 Obsidian Vineyard Syrah.