2012 Donelan Syrah Richard's Family Vineyard

A wine I followed for multiple days, the 2012 Syrah Richards Family Vineyard is another incredible effort that I suspect will merit an even higher score in another few years. Possessing a deep purple, mostly opaque color as well as a kaleidoscope of blackberry, currants, violets, decaying flowers, cured meats and pepper, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin, perfectly integrated acidity and a great finish. It’s surprisingly structured, tannic and closed, especially for a 2012, so forget bottles for a good 3-4 years.

One of Joe Donelan’s favorite vineyards and wines is his 2012 Syrah Richards Family Vineyard. (The 2013 was tasted from barrel but is not yet in bottle.) This vineyard is located in Annadel State Park in Sonoma County. It is considered a warmer region, but this is an east-facing, isolated vineyard. The wine is 100% Syrah aged in 45% new French oak for a whopping 34 months prior to bottling. The extended aging seems to calm down this wine, which has incredible density of fruit, mostly blackberry, blueberry and cassis, a brooding smell of subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal, full-bodied opulence, and a terrific finish with great density. This is a stunner and one of the superstars of a great lineup of wines. Drink it over the next 15 years.

The 2012 Syrah Richards Family Vineyard is another deep, dense, meaty wine. Rich dark red stone fruit, iron, mint, white pepper, herb and smoke form a super-appealing fabric of aromas, scents and flavors. This powerful, imposing Syrah will need time in bottle, but it is full of promise.