By Donelan Family Wines
2017 Sonoma County 'Cuvee Christine' Syrah

Wine Details
The usual suspect vineyards are present in this blend: Kobler, Lawer, Steiner, and Cardiac. We refer to the Cuvee Christine as our gateway drug to Syrah. It runs the full gamut and has fruit, spice, and savory. There's something for everyone here. This wine's quality-to-price ratio is unmatched.

Vintage Notes
The 2017 vintage was a challenge for Donelan after the Goldilocks 2016 vintage. The winter of 2016 was almost unrelenting with rain. The Russian River floodplain lived up to its name. The vintage marked the end of a multi-year drought. The vines responded by growing huge canopies. Staying on top of vineyard work and not getting behind was the name of the game. It was a moderate growing season up until Labor Day weekend. We saw triple-digit temperatures all over Sonoma County, with not even the coast spared. This accelerated the harvest pace, with almost all Pinot Noir and Chardonnay coming into the winery in less than two weeks. The later-season Rhone varieties were not affected as much as they were still undergoing veraison. Because of the heat, dropping damaged and dehydrated fruit in the vineyard and performing rigorous sorting in the winery was key to making quality wines. The vintage ended two weeks earlier than normal, thanks to warm weather.

Technical Details
Grapes: 100% Syrah
Fermentation: 31% whole cluster, native fermentation, native malolactic
Barrel Aging: 22 months in 43% new oak
Bottling Date: July 2019
Alcohol: 14.40%

Tasting Notes
On the nose are mulberries, blood orange, white flowers, and coffee grounds. Possesses not only great length but great breadth on the palate. Round, supple tannins, with a 45-plus second finish. The whole cluster fermentation gives it backbone without being too firm.
[Information provided by Miller Squared]

Wine: 2017 Donelan Syrah Cuvee Christine
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2021 - 2036
Review Date: 07/22/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2017 Syrah Cuvee Christine comes from a mix of [v]ineyards and offers a Cote Rotie-like perfume of black raspberries, smoked game, bouquet garni, and spring flowers. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a classic meaty, bacon fat-like character, supple tannins, beautiful up-front fruit, and outstanding length on the finish. I'd be thrilled to drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.

Wine: 2017 Donelan Family Wines Syrah Cuvee Christine
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2021 - 2031
Review Date: 06/03/2021
Reviewed By: Erin Brooks
Tasting Notes: Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Syrah Cuvee Christine has a nose of chargrill, roasted meats, coffee beans and spicy blackberries, with wafts of sage and dried herbs. The palate offers nuances of pepper and herbs with savory, dark fruits and an abundance of fine, grainy tannins, finishing long.

Wine: Donelan Family Wines 2017 Syrah Cuvee Christine
Score/Rating: 90
Suggested Drinking Window: 2022 - 2027
Review Date: 01/01/2021
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2017 Syrah Cuvee Christine is wonderfully polished right out of the gate. Perfumed, silky and open, the 2017 is pretty expressive right out of the gate. Tobacco, spice and licorice lend quite a bit of nuance to the super-ripe dark cherry and plum fruit. The 2017 is an attractive wine, although I wish it offered a bit more freshness.