Last Saturday night I attended the opening of the C. Donatiello Winery, a new boutique producer of small production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery owned by Christopher Donatiello in partnership with Bill Hambrecht is sited on Hambrecht's former Belvedere Winery. With the emphasis on quality over size, the winery received a complete makeover to optimize working with 7000 cases instead of the former 125000 case capacity.
Winemaking duties are handled by Troy McEnery and Web Marquez (co-owner of Ant Hill Farm)
Among the wines I tasted was a deliciously focused Rose of Pinot Noir that I think may be available at the winery only. It was a great way to start the evening of meeting the principals and enjoying the estate and getting the
The lineup includes a
2006 Chardonnay Russian River Valley
a clean and correct style aged in 50% new oak for 9 months - production 3400 cases, priced just under $30.00
2006 Chardonnay Russian River Valley, Orsi Vineyard
planted to the Robert Young clone and exhibits more of a crisp spicy character that sees the same oak regimen - production 225 cases, priced just under $40.00
2006 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
A well made example of the variety with pretty cranberry, cherry and peppered black raspberry - production 2750 cases priced just under $50.00
2006 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Floodgate Vineyard Old Vines -
Off of thirty year-old vines. Somehow I missed tasting this at the event. Floodgate has always been one of the grail vineyards for me from the region - production 175 cases priced just under $60.00
2006 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Maddie's Vineyard Estate bottled
All Pommard clone with smooth and bright complex black and red berries, cherry and blue plum - production 185 cases priced just over $60.00
I will be doing a more in-depth tasting of C. Donatiello in the next few weeks and an offer should be coming soon after that.
