Donnachadh Vineyards Estate Syrah 2018
VINTAGE : 2018
COUNTRY : USA
REGION/APPELLATION : California, Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast
VARIETALS : Syrah
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Road in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres under vine. We grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and a little bit of Gamay Noir.
We strive to make wines that express the beauty of this amazing place. We are inspired by the wines of Burgundy and the Northern Rhone, but want to make wines that recognize the uniqueness of this site. The cool climate and ocean breeze allow the grapes to ripen more slowly, developing rich, complex flavors while still retaining a bright natural acidity. There is a noticeable salinity, too, that further reminds one of the maritime environment that the wines come from. Finally, the varied terrain and soils, from the steep, rocky upper hillside to the gently rolling riverside blocks allow us to develop a lot of complexity and contrast within a relatively small area.
At harvest, we try to walk the line between capturing pleasing, ripe fruit flavors and keeping in touch with the subtle flavors and aromas that really make the site unique. We want to produce wines that express the fruit, the sun, the soil and, overall, have a feeling of depth, transparency, and inner calm. We want to make wines that will pair well with a meal, but that will also stand up to closer scrutiny -- that can be rewarding on their own.
The 2018 Donnachadh Estate Syrah is once again a blend of grapes from two very different blocks. We source Alban clone syrah from our sandy Riverside blocks, and 470 clone syrah from a block high up in the Hillside blocks.
The 2018 Donnachadh Estate Syrah enjoyed a long, gentle growing season. This Syrah is aromatic, dark and concentrated, showing classic aromas of pepper, iron, and cherries with dark fruit on the palate -- tart black cherry, red raspberry and blackberry. Juicy acidity and a bit of grip. A great match for a meal with bold flavors, especially grilled or roasted meats and vegetables.