Syrah, 2024
Donovan’s “Concrete Syrah” has won many hearts and minds since its introduction in 2021. Superficially it sounds so simple: a crackling, juicy, un-oaked, peppery Syrah that functions as the early-drinking gateway to the more serious Ava bottling. In the end though, it is the drinking wine of a master Syrah winemaker, which remains extremely fairly priced. In 2024, 5-10% of the wine actually went into barrel, bringing a little added richness. Notes of black tea, olives, plums and currants compliment this delicious straight Syrah, from schist-based vineyards, fermented with 100% whole clusters.
critic reviews
The 2024 Syrah spends ten months in concrete with partially submerged cap, 100% whole bunch. This has an intense bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, pressed violet and crushed stone, very precise and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, powerful, burly even, assertive with graphite-tinged black fruit on the finish. This will need time to tame it.