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2015 Donelan Cuvee Christine Syrah

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Latest Sale Price

November 5, 2023 - $41

Estimate

RATINGS

95Jeb Dunnuck

...offers a northern Rhône bouquet of black olives, bacon fat, smoked earth and meaty, peppery notes. It’s medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and layered, with a killer finish.

94+ Vinous / IWC

...dense, pliant and super-expressive, with striking aromatics, vivid fruit and fabulous overall balance... Sage, leather, tobacco and incense add an exotic element to the dark blue/purplish fruit in this alluring, sensual Syrah.

94Wine Enthusiast

...meaty in blackberry, fig and dark chocolate flavors. It is substantially layered, soft and rich in style. The fruit is balanced against accents of grilled meat, garrigue and black pepper that linger on the finish.

92The Wine Advocate

...rocks up with gregarious blackberry preserves, blueberry pie and warm plums notes with touches of star anise, cloves, Sichuan pepper and charcuterie plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling black and blue fruits with tons of spicy sparks, finishing very long and savory.

92James Suckling

Sultry, spicy aromas with pepper-dusted blackberries lead to the palate, where a trail of spice is threaded through blackberries and plums. Supple, fine tannins.

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, North Coast

North Coast AVA includes California’s most prestigious sub-appellations and vineyards. The three million acre area includes vineyards in six counties north of San Francisco and nearly 50 sub-appellations. The Napa Valley and Sonoma County AVAs are just two of the renowned sub-appellations included in the North Coast designation, which also includes the AVAs Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Stag’s Leap and Rutherford, which are all among the most acclaimed wine producing districts in California. The North Coast AVA designation is generally used for wines made by blending grapes grown in several counties or AVAs. The appellation includes part of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Solano and Lake.

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.

VINTAGE

2015 Donelan Cuvee Christine Syrah