United States · California

Donelan

Donelan Family Wines was founded in 2006 by Joe Donelan, a Sonoma County investor who began making wine with winemaker Tyler Thomas. The label focuses on single-vineyard Syrah and Chardonnay from Sonoma County's cool-climate sites. Obsidian Syrah, sourced from a volcanic-soil vineyard in Bennett Valley, is the flagship and most frequently traded at auction with 49 lots at an average of $72. Syrah Keltie, from Knights Valley, averages $80 across 14 lots; Nancie Chardonnay averages $38 across 8 lots. At auction, 141 lots have traded at an average of $72, ranging from $16 to $279. Donelan's wines receive consistent critical attention in the 91-95 range, and Obsidian Syrah has been highlighted by writers covering California's Syrah renaissance. Production is limited to around 2,000-3,000 cases annually. The $279 ceiling likely reflects magnums or highly scored vintages of Obsidian or Keltie.