| Producer | Melville |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Santa Barbara County |
| Varietal | Syrah |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 63065 |
| Size | 750ml |
Donna’s is an extraordinary achievement, walking a fine line between power and grace. An intoxicating bouquet of red and purple florals, and savory herbs permeate the glass with that iconic freshly cracked white peppercorn punch. The wine glides across the palate with stewed black plums, blackberries, Spanish olives, and peppered bacon. Sandy-like tannins and racy acidity bring all the flavors together in symphony. Pair Donna’s with braised lamb shank or short ribs.
Donna’s Block sits on a small 3.6-acre section located in the northeast portion of our vineyard composed of sandy soil – think beach sand minus the umbrella. This block endures an incredibly long and exposed growing season within the Sta. Rita Hills cold-climate wind and sun. Grown in this inhospitable climate, it can be challenging to get syrah to fully ripen, but with our supportive organic farming methods, we are able to nurture this delicate block and find it produces a syrah that is stylistically elegant and intriguing. Planted to equal parts Clone 1 and Estrella selection in twenty feet of well-drained and nutrient deficient sandy soils, this block results in a wine of great depth and concentration along with high-toned and hypnotic aromatics. 100% whole cluster
This wildly complex cool-climate Syrah begins with aromas of bay and eucalyptus leaf, torn-up asphalt, rainbow peppercorns and herby elderberry on the nose. The palate is explosive with bold flavors of bay, elderberry and even cannabis, sliced through with sharp acidity.
Another wine that shows the fresher style of the estate, the 2020 Syrah Donna's is a tiny production release (there are 800 cases produced) that's not destemmed and comes from a single parcel in their estate vineyard on the northern side of the Sta. Rita Hills. Its semi-opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied Syrah with classic notes of red, black, and blue fruits, peppery herbs, game, violets, and salted meats. Beautiful on the palate as well, this seamless, incredibly graceful, and flawlessly balanced effort reminds me of a great Côte Rôtie with its aromatics as well as its elegance and silkiness on the palate.
The 2020 Syrah Donna's Block comes from vines planted in pure sand and was vinified using 100% whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it has loads of personality! Wild blackberry aromas are streaked with nuances of iron, peppercorn and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate offers intense, herbal fruits supported by chalky tannins and refreshing acidity, and it boasts a long, layered finish replete with floral perfume. I love this combination of earthy wildness and pretty floral fruit. Best After 2022.
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