2016 Cuvee Keltie Syrah

A barrel selection from the top sites the estate works with, this cuvée is always 100% Syrah that's not destemmed and is brought up in neutral oak The 2016 Syrah Cuvee Keltie is another prodigious effort that offers everything you could want from a cool climate Syrah from California. Deep ruby-colored, with a stunning bouquet of dark fruits, ground pepper, lavender, cured meats, and dried flowers, it's full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, multi-dimensional, and has thrilling length. Drink this fabulous complex, singular Syrah over the coming 15-20 years or more.

The 2016 Syrah Cuvée Keltie, a selection from Donelan's top barrels is dense, meaty and powerful. Where most of the 2016s in this range offer sensuality and early appeal, the Cuvée Keltie will require a bit of patience. The 100% whole clusters are nicely balanced, and there is terrific depth to the unctuous blue/purplish fruit, lavender and spice flavors, but the wine has not come together yet. That should not be a problem in a few years' time.

The 2016 Syrah Cuvée Keltie is made of 100% Syrah with 80% whole cluster and aged for 22 months (no new oak). Medium to deep ruby-purple, it's youthfully coiled, with the nose slowly opening to reveal blueberry coulis, warm black cherries and berries with savory notions of olive and charcuterie plus notes of fried herbs and a mineral streak. Full-bodied, it's packed with black and blue fruits and savory notions segueing to bitter chocolate, framed by firm, dusty tannins and great freshness to lift the dense finish. 271 cases produced.