Bennett Valley

Full

Cork

Joe Donelan is a patient man. He waited years to secure fruit from the Jemrose Vineyard in Bennett Valley, east of the Russian River Valley. Cardiac Hill comes from a seriously steep, north-facing slope—its rugged, treacherous terrain as heart-attack-inducing as its name suggests. “The north-facing aspect really helped in this vintage,” says winemaker David Milner. “In 2022, its exposure kept it safe from sunburn or heat damage.” Naturally fermented with 6% whole cluster and aged for 21 months in 46% new French oak. This was the most generous of all the wines tasted—but only by subtle degrees. To be clear, it remains taut and coiled, with terrific zesty acidity. Yet the tannins also have a wonderful sweetness—silky, velvety, subtly sweet, yet firmly present. The evolution on the palate is all about emerging mineral tension—wet slate and cool, wet river rocks nuanced by elegant violets, rose petals, and a core of cool blue fruit that ties everything together, a clear reminder that this is Syrah. A very serious Syrah, with the structure to age for a long time. A standout of the 2022 vintage.

Syrah / Shiraz

Donelan, Cardiac Hill Vineyard, Bennett Valley, California, USA, 2022

cardiac-hill-2017-bottle-65ec8c6b0ceea.jpeg

Joe Donelan is a patient man. He waited years to secure fruit from the Jemrose Vineyard in Bennett Valley, east of the Russian R

Donelan, Cardiac Hill Syrah, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 2022

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