2014 Melville "Donna's" Sta. Rita Hills Syrah

“Even better, with more depth, density and ripeness, the 2014 Syrah Donna’s offers overflowing notes of olive tapenade, salted beef, licorice, black olive, peppery herbs and cured meats, with tons of ripe currants, fresh plum and smoked black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with fabulous purity and persistence, I wouldn't push the aging curve, but it's a killer wine that will provide tons of pleasure over the coming 7-8 years. (JD)” (08/2016)

“Superfresh and fennel-laced on the nose, this cool-climate Syrah shows underripe plums, raspberry, charcoal, lavender, pepper sauce, thyme and forest underbrush on the nose. It's impressively floral on the energetic, not overly dense sip, with lavender, rosehip and white sage touches enlivening the dark red fruit. (MK)” (02/2017)

“The 2014 Syrah Donna's is much more dense through the middle than the Estate Syrah. Here the whole clusters (100%) are more evident, but what stands out most is the wine's richness and pure power. The whole clusters are evident, but mostly in the wine's texture. Rose petal, mint, chalk and raspberries add the closing shades of nuance. (AG)” (09/2016)