Donati Family Vineyards Claret 2016
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Suckling
James
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aromas of cherry cola, boysenberry, and chocolate dipped blueberry. The palate is well balanced, medium bodied with well integrated tannins. There are notes of blackberry, mocha and boysenberry on the palate. The finish has lingering notes of mocha and graphite as well as candied cherry.
Blend: 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This well-structured but sleek Bordeaux blend from the Central Coast is brimming with sour-cherry and blackberry aromas. The gentle tannins are already well integrated and this has a very food-friendly balance. With a little more concentration, it would rate even higher.
Other Vintages
2019-
Suckling
James -
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Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Wine
As a young boy, Ron Donati grew up in South San Francisco, the son of a first generation Italian-American family. His grandfather Albino Donati made his own wine for the family dinner table. Ron has carried that legacy forward with the mission of producing wines of exceptional quality regardless of budget.
Ron and his three sons Matt, Mark and Brad established Donati Family Vineyard in 1998. They acquired vineyards in the small town of Paicines, CA, located on California's Central Coast. The location enjoys long warm days followed by cool nights thanks to the marine influence of the Monterey Bay, creating an ideal environment for growing premium wine grapes. Paicines grapes are sought after by well-known established brands as well as discerning small production wineries alike.
The core of Donati Family Vineyard's award- winning wine portfolio has always been focused on Bordeaux varieties. These include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as high-quality Meritage-style blends, in addition to our family reserve wines that include Ezio Cabernet and The Immigrant, named after Ron's father and grandfather, respectively. The versatility of the Paicines AVA allows the winery to also produce select amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Syrah, and Grenache. All of the fruit is sourced from our sustainably farmed estate vineyards.
The Donati Family Vineyard winery is located in Templeton, California, in the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country. It was purchased in 2007 and remodeled extensively to create a warm and welcoming tasting room and hospitality center, as well as an outdoor picnic area with Bocce courts.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The warmest part of the greater San Benito AVA, but cooler than the Central Valley, the Paicines appellation excels in the production of concentrated and high-quality, red Bordeaux varietal wines and blends.