2011 · Obsidian Vineyard Syrah

Donelan Wines is a family-owned winery in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, founded by Joe Donelan in 2000, originally as Pax Wine. Joe and his sons Tripp and Cushing remain involved in the day-to-day operation. The winery makes small-batch, site-specific wines from Sonoma, Mendocino and surrounding regions, focusing on Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Rhône varieties. Long-standing grower relationships and careful vineyard study guide selections down to individual blocks or rows. Winemaking emphasizes native-yeast fermentation, whole-cluster techniques, minimal intervention and restrained French-oak use, seeking balanced, savory expressions of each site. The portfolio includes single-vineyard and estate bottlings from locations such as Bennett Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Mendocino Ridge and Obsidian Estate.