2013 Melville Estate Syrah Donna´s Santa Rita Hills

The top Syrah is the 2013 Syrah Donna's. Made from 100% Syrah, 60% destemmed and aged 12 months in neutral oak, it's a full-bore, decadent, low acid and unctuously textured beauty that knocks it out of the park with its salty, bloody, peppery, black olive, violet and dark fruit-driven bouquet. Complex, layered and decadent, with no hard edges and a massive amount of texture and raw material, it's a heavenly Syrah to enjoy anytime over the coming 6-7 years.

Melville's 2013 Syrah Donna's is sweet, perfumed and juicy, with attractive floral/savory overtones from the 100% whole clusters. This is an especially juicy, fruit-driven Syrah with plenty of near-term appeal, with the stems nicely integrated.

There's a noticeable stemmy quality on the nose of this incredibly intriguing, almost mysterious wine, with green and pink peppercorns, crushed coffee beans and squeezed blueberry fruit aromas. A woodiness pervades the palate too, where roasted poblano chile meets with smoked cigar, lavender, dried berries and asphalt. It evolves steadily while open, and will drink with fascination 2016-2028.