2014 Donelan Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard is another Côte Rôtie look-alike that offers lots of cool-climate, pretty, peppery, and herbal notes as well as medium to full-bodied richness, loads of blackcurrants, black olive and violet nuances, integrated acidity and polished, fine tannin. It’s beautifully balanced and elegant, yet has enough structure to evolve for a decade or more. The 2014 was cofermented with 10% Viognier and brought up in neutral oak. As with all young vintages from this estate, give it a decant if drinking soon. This is cool-climate California Syrah done at its finest.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2014 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard is gorgeous. Inky, powerful and intense, but with striking aromatic lift from the 10% co-fermented Viognier, the 2014 is a total knock-out. Black pepper, sage, violet, lavender and a host of blue/purplish notes infuse the creamy finish. The 50% whole clusters add complexity, but are not overpowering. Put simply, this is a stunning wine from Donelan.
Blended of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier and aged in oak for 21 months in entirely used oak, the 2014 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed black berries, black plums and black currants with underlying hints of tar, licorice, black olives and black pepper. Medium-bodied and quite elegant in the mouth, the perfumed layers have wonderful energy and persistence while the grainy tannins lend savory chewiness to the fruit and spice. 508 cases were made.