The 2020 Syrah Donna's Block comes from vines planted in pure sand and was vinified using 100% whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it has loads of personality! Wild blackberry aromas are streaked with nuances of iron, peppercorn and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate offers intense, herbal fruits supported by chalky tannins and refreshing acidity, and it boasts a long, layered finish replete with floral perfume. I love this combination of earthy wildness and pretty floral fruit. 800 cases produced.

The 2019 Syrah Donna's Block comes from Estrella clone vines planted in pure sandy soils and was made entirely with whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it has a detailed perfume of blue and black berries, licorice, cast iron and wafts of mint chocolate and tapenade. Fresh, medium-bodied and lacy, the elegant palate offers savory fruits and a long, uplifted finish.

The 2009 Syrah Donna’s brings together all of the best qualities of the winery’s approach to Syrah. It is an explosive wine that maintains considerable transparency and finesse despite its size. Mint, white flowers and licorice meld together beautifully on the articulate finish. The Donna’s was made with 100% whole clusters. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019 . Melville is one of the better known properties in Santa Barbara. The estate makes a wide range of wines under the direction of oenologist Greg Brewer, and also sells fruit to a number of other producers. The 2009 Pinot Noirs in particular are standouts. Brewer vinified the Pinots with one-third whole clusters. The 2010 Chardonnays had only recently been bottled and needed quite a bit of air to blow off some of their reductive qualities.Tel. (805) 735-7030; www.melvillewinery.com

Absolutely prodigious, the 2008 Syrah Donna’s is aged completely in neutral French oak (as are its two siblings), and a generous amount of stems/whole clusters were used during the winemaking (approximately 80%). From a four-acre block in the Melville vineyard, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, graphite, and camphor, sensational concentration, a full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning purity and succulence, and a whoppingly long, seamless, 45-second finish. Drink this remarkable Syrah over the next 7-8+ years. This sensational Santa Rita Hills estate owned by the Melville family continues to turn out gorgeous wines that are made and looked after by Greg Brewer of the Brewer-Clifton winery. The prices are absurdly fair for such quality.Tel. (805) 735-7030; Fax (805) 735-5310