Wine

Item Description

The best wines are not made but discovered. Discover Donelan Wines with this special case including:3 bottles of 2014 Donelan Rose, 3 bottles of 2012 Donelan Nancie Chardonnay, 3 bottles of 2012 Donelan Two Brothers Pinot Noir, and 3 bottles of 2012 Donelan Cuvee Christine Syrah.

About Donelan Wines: "We are a small, boutique winery in Sonoma County producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Roussanne. We have elected to prize quality over all other factors. Simply put, we think wine should taste great – with every vintage and every grape, this is our ultimate priority and our greatest motivation.

We believe that the best wines are not made but discovered and we take pride in the responsibility and privilege of distilling for your pleasure the greatest qualities and natural variations in a vineyard and a variety. We start with great terroir, because site trumps all variables, and we proceed with extreme selectivity, conscientious winemaking, and extensive blending trials."

Item Special Note

3 bottles of 2014 Donelan Rose

The 2014 Rose is a selection of unique lots from vineyard blocks that display exotic fruit, incredible energy, and proof that even fun wines can have a serious and irresistible edge. The 2014 is a blend of 55% Syrah, 29% Grenache and 16% Pinot Noir, fermented in neutral barrels. It blooms with watermelon, mango, and grapefruit on the nose and palate, with driven acidity and heartbreaking pale pink color with a frosted copper edge. Think of it as the 2014 vintage unplugged – an acoustic version of the reds in barrel.

3 bottles of 2012 Donelan Nancie – Chardonnay

The 2012 vintage allowed for flavors to develop gradually, producing a wine of incredible depth, uncompromising energy, and a long finish.As our blend matures, so does our ability to produce a supple, layered Chardonnay. The wine, predominately fermented in neutral oak, finds balance with choice coopers that offer enticing spice that mirrors some of the cool-climate flavors and minerality that these vineyards produce. The nose offers immediate aromas of pear, wildflower honey, fresh linen, and lemon meringue pie. Consistent with 2010 and 2011, the mouth feel combines surprising freshness with ample richness, making the wine versatile to pair with food or enjoy on its own.

“My first experience with a Chardonnay from Donelan Family Wines is the 2012 Chardonnay Nancie. Made from 30+-year-old vines in cold sites, it was aged 10 months in French oak of which 23% was new, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and achieved relatively low alcohol for a California Chardonnay (13.3%). Aromas of lemon butter, white currants, quince and wet gravel emerge from this medium-bodied, refreshing Chardonnay. A California version of a premier cru Chablis should be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years.”

- Robert Parker

The Wine Advocate: 91pts

3 bottle of 2012 Donelan Two Brothers – Pinot Noir

With the 2012 Two Brothers, we have kept the representation of vineyards consistent with the 2011. By most standards, 2012 was a very consistent growing season, allowing the fruit to mature at a moderate rate. Our constant pressure on the vine for early water stress set the stage for great flavor expression and texture in the finished wine.

As the Two Brothers Pinot evolves in our portfolio, so does our approach. We like to create the blend like a director composes a scene – by evaluating it from every angle. This pinot represents a confluence of influence – the interaction of multiple sites, subsections of blocks, whole-cluster inclusion, and new French oak. As with previous vintages, the 2012 expresses a dynamic juxtaposition of red fruits and forest fruits, alongside nutmeg and cedar. Paired with food, each of these is highlighted in its own way, and are together balanced with baking spice, fine tannin, and freshness.

3 bottles of 2012 Donelan Cuvee Christine – Syrah

The latest edition of Cuvée Christine exemplifies poise within the Syrah spectrum, from savory to sweet. Named for the matriarch of the Donelan family, and like Christine herself, the wine is focused, complex, and engaging. Fermented with 30% whole cluster in 80% neutral oak, this Syrah is a blend of four different vineyard sites. The 2012 exhibits classic components of braised short-ribs, grilled figs, and graphite, which stand in contrast to the ripe currants and passion fruit on the palate. Built to drink both upon release and in 10 years’ time, the tannins are finely woven into a full palate with a bright acidity that will keep the wine young for years to come.