Recommendation: Not Recommended.
Winery/Producer: Donelan Family Wines; Santa Rosa, California.
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir.
Geographic Region, Appellation: North Coast, California.
Vintage: 2012
Price: $55.00 (with a $10. discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Paired With: Pork roast, garlic pasta, salad with Greek style dressing.
Tasting:
He said: Opened 20 minutes before drinking. Clear, light ruby red color. Dark fruit and alcohol aromas. Intense, dry, heavy, black cherry and plum taste that lingers through a medium-long finish that is a tad sweet. Not bad Pinot Noir, I really like the strong dark fruit, spicy taste and silky tannins from the mid-palate through the finish. I would classify this as just a little rough around the edges, and because of the $55.00 price not recommend it.
She said: Good Pinot but not at the $55.00 price. The fragrance was at first alcoholic but opened up to a floral fruity bouquet that was very enticing. The bouquet followed through to the taste and lasted through the long finish. The bouquet and flavor were laudatory and were accompanied by medium body and medium dryness all of which resulted in a very pleasant tasting experience. The down side is the price. There are plenty of good, or better, Pinot’s available at lesser price points so it pays to look around.
Comments: This is the last of the Five Donelan wines we purchased at a tasting and this is the one we liked the best. We would be much more positive about all of them if they were not so expensive. There are sooooooooo many OUTSTANDING $50.00 wines available the Donelan wines are just not competitive.
Alcohol: 14.1%