2009 Donelan Venus Rousanne/Viognier	Pris: 330,00 DKK
A blend of 90% Roussanne and 10% Viognier, this wine once again is primarily from Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley. A cool vineyard that ripens the Roussanne very slowly, we harvested this fruit at a potential alcohol of 12%. Viognier from Kobler Family Vineyard was added to bring a “lift” to the aromatics along with a touch more depth to the mouth feel. As with the 2008, the 2009 epitomizes prettiness. If you could drink delicacy, this would be a close representation. This wine with its aromas of beeswax, lily, and freesia, is complexly flavored but without the overbearing weight of a typical Roussanne. Dancing, delicate, and fresh, we hope this to be another wine that is irresistible to uncork Robert Parker: 91 -93 Readers looking for low alcohol offerings will love the 2009 Venus, a blend of 90% Roussanne and 10% Viognier that tips the scales at 12.3% alcohol. One would never believe that based on the intensity of flavor. Most of the fruit comes from a vineyard I adore for its Sauvignon, but I wasn’t aware it included some Roussanne, the Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley southeast of Santa Rosa. The 2009 Venus exhibits crisp, fresh, delicate but impressively intense notes of lychee nuts, caramelized citrus, spring flowers, fresh pears and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with lively acidity as well as an exotic perfume and a dry, zesty style, I would recommend drinking it on the early side because of its exceptional aromatics. It should last 2-3 years.

2008 Donelan Syrah Cuvee Keltie North Coast	Pris: 525,00 DKK
Cuvee Keltie is created with a focus on tradition, barrel selection, and the savory elements Syrah can possess. Furthermore its key ingredient is one of our core winemaking values: patience. As the potential barrels evolve over a two-year period we frequently revisit this blend to ensure we are producing an inimitable wine that delivers purity, definition, and wonderful pleasure. We believe this diligence and patience has been rewarded as we present the 2008 Donelan Cuvee Keltie. Sourced from 5 cool vineyards, primarily fermented 100% whole cluster, and aged in a limited amount of new oak, we selected only 9 barrels that express a complete offering of Syrah’s potential. The nose is a wonderful blend of savory and rich fruit aromas combining cedar and white pepper with dark dried fruits and black cherry. While rustic elements in the mouth feel are decidedly Cuvee Keltie and consistent with the whole cluster fermentation, there is also silkiness, incredible depth, and balance on the palate. This wine is a bit showy, an aromatic and textural feast, enjoy with a similarly described meal! Robert Parker: 94 - 96 The 2008 Syrah Cuvee Keltie (100% Syrah with 75% whole clusters, and aged 26 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new) reveals Hermitage-like characteristics of ground pepper, roasted meats, damp earth, Christmas fruitcake, blackberries and incense. Rich and full-bodied with loads of tannin and a backward, brooding personality, this sensational wine is meant for true connoisseurs who are willing to give it some time in the cellar. It should evolve for 15 or more years.

2009 Donelan Syrah Obsidian Vineyard Knights Valley	Pris: 600,00 DKK
The challenge in farming this old vine, rocky vineyard is managing its variability. In 2008 we began isolating physiological differences in the vineyard so each section could be micromanaged according to its needs. The 2008 was wonderful, a kitchen sink of flavors with voluptuous texture. In 2009, with a greater perspective of what each vineyard section offers, we were able to refine the wine and optimize each section of the vineyard. The 2009 Obsidian has been veiled in mystery most of its aging period. Only recently have aromas of wet rock, lilac, bacon, and chocolate begun to emerge. As seems to be consistent with the 2009 vintage as a whole, the palate is supple and incredibly structured. One can sense strong scaffolding awaiting more flesh to develop and fill out the wine. Not as voluptuous or open as the 2008 right now, it may be better built, more complex, and outlast its immediate predecessor. Robert Parker: 94 - 96 The 2009 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard comes from the extraordinary, black marble-like, obsidian soils of Knight’s Valley. Made from 100% Syrah with 40% stems, it will be aged 18 months before bottling. From a high elevation (1,200 feet) vineyard, it boasts an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to notes of bacon fat, crushed rocks, blackberries and spring flowers. Still somewhat understated, it offers numerous layers and nuances on the palate, good freshness (a hallmark of all Tyler Thomas’s wines), and a long distance style. Cellar it for 2-5 years after its release and enjoy it over the following 15+.

2008 Donelan Syrah Richards Vineyard	Pris: 780,00 DKK
With three vintages now released, Richard’s Family Vineyard has become well- known for its unique aromatic profile. The beauty of this wine is the simplicity with which it is produced. It is a terroir driven wine if there ever was one. A rare 2-acre parcel nestled in the Schultz Valley near Annadel State Park in Sonoma Valley. This vineyard fits our perfect mold for single vineyard wine production: a complete wine that provides unique, even singular characters or markers that seem largely attributable to the fact that the grapes were grown in that location. The 2008 is no exception. The grapes, gently foot tread, were fermented 100% whole cluster, and provided extended time on the skins. The wine will be aged 31 months before bottling. Aromatically the 2008 challenges one’s ability to conjure up enough adjectives to do it justice. It seems to have a combination of flavors that on the surface seem incongruent – like citrus peel and leather – but in the end are incredibly intoxicating. Whatever your chosen descriptors underlying everything are ripe blackberry aromas paired with roasted herbs like lavender and oregano. And while the intensity and pleasure of the nose may cause one to wonder if the palate is going to be too heavy and audacious, the 2008 proves to be elegant and focused. This is the kind of wine that tempts producers to take a loss and never release, only enjoying its pleasures for themselves! 2008 NYR 2007 97-100 2006 96-98 2005 NR 2004 96