2015 Donelan Cuvée Keltie

I loved the 2015 Syrah Cuvee Keltie, another ripe, sexy, yet still classic example of this cuvée. Cool climate notes of black fruits, smoked meat, pepper, and assorted dark fruits all flow to a concentrated, full-bodied Syrah that has plenty of mid-palate heft, remarkable purity of fruit, and sweet tannins that emerge on this finish. It’s a powerful yet flawlessly balanced effort that’s drinking nicely today yet promises another 15+ years of enjoyment.

The 2015 Syrah Cuvee Keltie is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and displays an incredible bouquet of floral, black fruit and earthy aromas: blackberries, mulberries, black plums, mossy bark, truffles and red roses with a touch of aniseed. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, it finishes very long and earthy.

The 2015 Syrah Cuvée Keltie is a dense, powerful wine. Blueberry, black olive tapenade, inky fruit and gravel are all given an extra kick of mineral and savory intensity from the whole clusters. This super-expressive, bold Syrah needs time to be at its very best, although it is quite impressive today, even at this early stage.