Donum Carneros Single Vineyard Estate Chardonnay 2016
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Brought up in 50% new French oak with malolactic fermentation blocked, the 2016 Chardonnay Estate is a juicy, crisp, almost racy beauty that has lots of tart pineapple, lemon peel, and melon notes. It’s nicely balanced on the palate and is going to drink beautifully for 7-8 years, if not longer.
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Wine Spectator
Powerful acidity backs the freshly cut apple, pear and citrus flavors. Elderflower and jasmine accents show midpalate, featuring a juicy finish that vibrates with savory intensity. Drink now through 2024.
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James Suckling
An array of ripe melon with gooseberry and lime pith, leading to pithy lime and green-mango flavors on the palate that carries an approachable, fresh finish.
Other Vintages
2019-
Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
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Wine
Enthusiast
Donum is a leader in single-vineyard, single-appellation Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Northern California. Donum's terroir-driven wines reflect the energy and complexity of some of the most celebrated regions in Northern California, including Carneros, Russian River Valley, and Anderson Valley.
Donum's winemaking philosophy has never wavered: to make the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in California while also preserving natural resources. Donum is Latin for Gift, and the Donum team considers wine to be a gift of the land. Donum respects this gift by keeping its focus on healthy, living soils. Donum achieved the highest level of organic certification as one of the first wineries in Sonoma County to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) status for all its Estate vineyards. Donum's farming and winemaking team are constantly innovating and testing new techniques and farming practices including soil enrichment, integrated pest management, and encouraging biodiversity around the vineyards. Donum is also certified organic from the California Certified Organic Farming Association (CCOF).
Founded in 2001, the Donum Estate is located in the acclaimed wine region of Carneros, nestled between Napa and Sonoma Counties. The Estate includes a winemaking facility, a contemporary hospitality experience, an organic farm and one of the largest accessible private sculpture collections in the world – The Donum Collection. With more than 50 monumental works of art – of which over a third are site-specific – the evolving Collection brings together a global community of artists and leading practitioners from 18 nations across 6 continents, including Ai Weiwei, Ghada Amer, Doug Aitken, Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, Keith Haring and Subodh Gupta.
At the intersection of fine wine, sustainable farming and world-class art, Donum connects a global community and creates holistic, sensory wine experiences that have made it an international destination. For more information and to inquire about a private tasting experience reservation, please visit www.thedonumestate.com. Follow @DonumEstate on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation using #TheDonumEstate.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.