Knights Valley

From Magnum.  Wonderful aged Syrah but it is starting to show it's age.  Purple in color.  The nose has black olives, boysenberries, slight black pepper and a hint of bacon fat.  On the palate, this has a nice backbone of acidity.  Layers of black raspberry fruit with some earthiness, some black olives and a bit of pepper.  Long finish.  Worked well with a wide variety of foods.  This probably should be drunk up in the next five years or so.  

Silvery green in color.  Very nice nose with chalk, minerals, tarragon and slight lemon notes.  Decidedly more mineral driven than fruit.  On the palate, the lemon comes out a bit more along with a bit of peach.  Plenty of minerals as well.  A very nice oily texture.  Great balance and acidity.  Long finish.  This is a energetic and persistent wine that is lean and goes great with food.  It has depth and complexity as well and probably be drinking just fine in ten years, but the energy will be gone, so it is best enjoyed in the next few.  

Sadly, this vineyard was burned in 2017 in the fires of Sonoma and Napa.  It is being replanted which is good news as this was the star of the Donelan line-up.  This was tasted from Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, and some grilled meats.  With air a nice floral note emerges.  On the palate, this has a softer accessible side which is nice, but don't mistake that for a lack of structure.  Black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  It is classic Sonoma Syrah that should last a couple of decades more and continue to improve along the w