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2015 Donelan Cuvee Keltie Syrah

2 available
Minimum Bid Per Bottle is $50
Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

ITEM 10325298 - Removed from a professional wine storage facility; Purchased direct from winery

Bidder Quantity Amount Total
2 $50
2015 Donelan Cuvee Keltie Syrah

RATINGS

98Jeb Dunnuck

...ripe, sexy...notes of black fruits, smoked meat, pepper, and assorted dark fruits all flow to a concentrated, full-bodied Syrah that has plenty of mid-palate heft, remarkable purity of fruit, and sweet tannins that emerge on this finish.

95The Wine Advocate

...incredible bouquet of floral, black fruit and earthy aromas: blackberries, mulberries, black plums, mossy bark, truffles and red roses with a touch of aniseed. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, it finishes very long and earthy.

95+ Vinous / IWC

...dense, powerful wine. Blueberry, black olive tapenade, inky fruit and gravel are all given an extra kick of mineral and savory intensity from the whole clusters...super-expressive, bold Syrah...

93Wine Enthusiast

Flavors of burnt orange, dark cherry, meat and lavender combine around intensely thick tannins and weight, finding mineral-laden complexity on the finish.

92James Suckling

This has a very direct and confidently stated fruit core with ripe blackberries and dark plums, framed in subtly spicy oak. A medium-weight, pliable and drinkable style with plenty of flavor and interest.

PRODUCER

Donelan

Donelan is the former Pax Wine Cellars of Sonoma, California, but with a new winemaker and point of view. It is owned by investor and wine connoisseur Joe Donelan, who previously owned the majority interest in Pax Wine Cellars with Pax Mahle, who was Pax's winemaker. Mahle left Pax Winery in 2008 after he and Donelan had a falling out and became involved in a lawsuit. Donelan makes Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. The winemaker at Donelan is Tyler Thomas. Robert M. Parker Jr. has complimented Donelan's "exceptionally elegant portfoilio" of wines.

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma County

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.