My two favorite wines included the 2012 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard from Knights Valley. Aged 20 months in 43% new French oak for 20 months, this is a bigger wine at 14.7% alcohol that comes from rather remarkable volcanic soils with shiny, black obsidian rock looking like marble. There is severe stress in these vineyards and the roots force deep into the volcanic soils for nourishment. This wine, from a vineyard planted in 1970s, shows notes of gunflint, camphor, scorched earth and an almost primordial, brooding richness and intensity. Blackberry and cassis are the fruit flavors, there’s some smokiness and lots of thickness and richness. This is a massive, very intense, full-throttle Syrah that should age effortlessly for 20 or more years.-RP
The 2012 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard is one of the more intense, savory wines in the range. Chalk, smoke, herbs, dried stone fruits and wild flowers add nuance, but the fruit never seems to fully emerge. Overall, the Obsidian feels a bit compact and lacking in mid-palate depth. This is a decidedly soft vintage for the Obsidian, with fewer of the Knights Valley signatures that are typically found.- Antonio Galloni (01/2015)
Producer: Donelan Family Wines
Vintage: 2012
Varietal: Syrah
Country: USA
Region: CA - North Coast (Napa,Sonoma)
Sub-Region: Sonoma
Appellation: Knights Valley
Sub-Appellation:
SKU: #
.
