Dont know anything about these but got an offer today for a Syrah at $150 a reg bottle.
The only Syrah i can think of that exceeds that price is SQN, Saxum, Alban and all the others i can think of fall below it.
Is this stuff really in the SQN world of quality ?
In the past that Richard’s was highly allocated. I never tried it, but it has always received effusive reviews from the pros. I guess in lieu of trying to allocate it, they just jacked the price (and quantity) high enough as to self-regulate its distribution. I’m curious about this one and thinking about ordering a couple of bottles - not ready to pull the trigger yet, and long-time Pax/Donelan fans may end up taking this off the table anyway with full case allocations available.
I bought Donelan wines for a couple of years. They are usually very well made and delicious but I am also on the Saxum, Bedrock, Booker and Carlisle lists so when Donelan started raising prices I dropped off of his list. He has great customer service and, as I said, some excellent wines from renowned vineyards so it depends on what you are looking for.
Is this stuff really in the SQN world of quality ?
Depends on your view of SQN quality.
Donelan is probably better, but that’s just me. I’m sure many people disagree.
Worth $150? No, but then again, neither are any of those others you mention.
Did anyone get an allocation of the Donelan Cuvee Keltie? All I got offered was a 3 pack vertical of the '10,'11,'12.
I tasted through a few of their syrahs at the Rhone Ranger tasting in DC. I walked away very impressed. Their 2011 Cuvee Christine was the wine of the night for me. That said, these wines are often out of my comfort level for price. Keep in mind also that they have no resemblance stylistically to the cult syrahs you listed. Stylistically, they would be more similar to say Qupé or Ojai, at least for me.
That’s all they are offering and it’s wish list only. Quite a tariff @$700/3pk. I like the Keltie but I have paid far less for magnums than this per bottle price.
It’s stellar wine. Just unique and in a certain way dramatic for CA syrah. Will be interesting to check out Joe Nielson’s handiwork, the '13s being his first vintage. Prices, man! It’s either some of these mailing lists or a Boston Whaler…
Saxum doesn’t exceed $150. It is under $100.
Alban Reva is not 150 either and for my palate Donelan does not play in the same sandbox as the ones you mentioned. Ive only tried one Richard though. I have drank numerous other cuvees. Still have about 10 assorted bottles.
I currently buy sqn, alban and saxum. No longer buy Donelan.
I tried the 2012 and 2013 versions of the Christine, Walker Vine Hill, and Obsidian this spring and had a slight preference for the 2013s.
Well made wines if you like that style. I don’t. Had a bunch of them blind a while back.
Worth $150? I don’t see it. There’s a TON of great wine available for much less.
I am not familiar with this winery, but wow, that places its syrah price-point higher than Allemand, Jamet, Clape, Faurie, Benetiere, Guigal d’Ampuis, and up there close to Jaboulet La Chappelle.
Just out of curiosity, when did this winery start making syrah?
Robert,
Donelan is the original Pax re-branded. Without Pax of course.
No question on quality. Cost keeps me from buying. I doubt secondary market will support those price levels without a big Parker score.
The 2009 got 100 points from Parker. I think that is the reason for the price.
FWIW I gave the 2011 97 points:
http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2014-05-29_WCC_Donelan_Yonos/
I think you and Steve are misreading the OP, though maybe he should have put a semicolon after “SQN”.
I only got wishlist on that vertical. The 2012 got 99 points from Parker, so I guess they are maximizing their return on that. Which IMO is understandable given the way people still chase Parker scores, though I’m sure it won’t make some people happy, esp. those who already bought the 10 and 11.
But Ken, semicolons are fancy!
