Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Donna’s presents a strikingly vivid, broad profile. With aromas of everything from dried lavender, coriander, smoked meat and saffron to olive tapenade and ripe red pepper, the palate is somehow even more alluring, with a texture that is both velvety and structured. Flavors of ripe black plum, blueberry and cherry are complemented by herbaceous and floral elements of fennel seed, white and pink peppercorn, mint, and lilac. Donna’s is a wine to savor and lingers long on the palate with refreshing saline minerality.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Deeper purple-hued, the 2019 Syrah Donna's offers a more exotic, feral, wild side to Syrah and reminds me of an old school Cornas, yet with ripe California fruit. Ground pepper, black olives, tapenade, and bloody red and blue fruits all define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, with moderate acidity, ripe polished tannins, and a monster of a finish. This cuvée is made in a more finesse-driven, elegant style today, and it shines for its balance, purity, and complexity. It's a singular, gorgeous Syrah that could come from nowhere else.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Syrah Donna's Block comes from Estrella clone vines planted in pure sandy soils and was made entirely with whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it has a detailed perfume of blue and black berries, licorice, cast iron and wafts of mint chocolate and tapenade. Fresh, medium-bodied and lacy, the elegant palate offers savory fruits and a long, uplifted finish. Rating: 95+
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.