Production by Donovan Rall is small and the wines are unapologetically bold without being overly heroic. Blending different cultivars from different areas, partnered with judicious use of new oak, gives the wines complexity and a sense of luxuriousness, both on the nose and on the palate. Importantly, Donovan manages to create balanced wines, even at the fuller-bodied end of the spectrum. Very classy multi-regional wines in the best tradition of the “new” world.
As always Donovan was meticulous in all aspects of making this wine, the majority of this wine being double sorted and destemmed with only 50% of the Cinsault whole bunch pressed. Thereafter spending 18 months in 225L second and third fill French oak barrels. And another 18 months in bottle before hitting the shelves.