Recommendation: Not Recommended.
Winery/Producer: Donelan Family Wines; Santa Rosa, California.
Grape Variety: Chardonnay.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Sonoma County, California.
Vintage: 2011
Price: $46.00 (with an $8.00 discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Parmesan Chicken and salad with Greek style dressing with olive oil and garlic
Tasting:
He said: Chilled before drinking. Dark Oat straw color. Strong vanilla and oak aromas, Very creamy, buttery, vanilla taste with citrus notes and medium-long tart (it could be called bitter) finish. Overall a very heavy, creamy, vanilla Chardonnay that’s not a sipping wine. But at $46.00 it has to compete with a lot of other California Chardonnay that we have found to be less expensive. For me this Donelan Chardonnay falls into the same category as the other Donelan wines we have had…very drinkable (really pretty good), small volume production wine, but it’s expensive, as a result I would not recommend it.
She said: Smooth, flavorful and enjoyable? Yes. But at $46. it does not measure up. At that price point a wine should offer more. It did not pair well with the dinner so I quit drinking it until the dinner was gone. When I began drinking with a clean palate the wine faired differently although not better. The aroma was touched with vanilla but also was slightly acrid and was followed by a tinge of sharpness in the mouth that ended up as bitterness in the long finish. As it warmed up the effect was magnified…sip this one quickly as it warms-up it gets bitter. That is not to say the wine was bad; it is better than many Chardonnays we have had but not nearly as good as others. I would buy the Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay before I would buy this again!!!
Comments:
Alcohol: 13.7%