2016 Donelan Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Coming from the Green Valley portion of the Russian River and co-fermented with 10% Viognier, the 2016 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard from this team boasts a Guigal Côte Rôtie La Mouline-like perfume of spring flowers, incense, apricot, honeysuckle, and black raspberry-like fruits. It's exotic, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, with no hard edges and an opulent, sexy style that's just about impossible to resist. It's ideal for drinking any time over the coming 10-15 years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard is the most reticent of these Syrahs from Donelan. What the Kobler lacks in generosity today, it more than makes up for with its energy and overall persistence. Black cherry, menthol, pine, spice and savory herbs are all nicely layered in an expressive, nuanced Syrah that only needs time to be at its very best. I can't say that the 10% of co-fermented Viognier is especially noticeable today.
The 2016 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard contains 10% Viognier co-fermented with Syrah. It saw 30% whole cluster and was aged 22 months in once and twice used barrels. Medium to deep ruby-purple in the glass, it's youthfully coiled on the nose, slowly opening to lilac and violet perfume, bitter chocolate and granite over a core of ripe black and blue fruits with red fruit hints and savory notions. It's medium to full-bodied with concentrated, savory black and blue fruits segueing to chocolaty notes, framed by very firm, dusty-textured tannins and good acidity to lift the long, dense finish. Give this more time in bottle! 315 cases produced.