2011 Donelan Chardonnay Nancie
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Donelan's 2011 Chardonnay Nancie is pretty and expressive. Another wine with lovely textural depth and nuance, the 2011 is laced with dried apricots, nectarines, flowers and mint, all of which come together in the glass. Though medium in body, the 2011 impresses for its soft, caressing personality and terrific overall balance. The partial-malo style is highly appealing here.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Donelan's 2011 Chardonnay Nancie is pretty and expressive. Another wine with lovely textural depth and nuance, the 2011 is laced with dried apricots, nectarines, flowers and mint, all of which come together in the glass. Though medium in body, the 2011 impresses for its soft, caressing personality and terrific overall balance. The partial-malo style is highly appealing here. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. Joe Donelan's huge passion for the great reds of the Rhone Valley and a deeply held belief in California's best vineyards are the driving forces behind Donelan Family Wines. Donelan and his talented winemaker, Tyler Thomas, focus on marginal, cold-climate sites in Sonoma. The wines are made with a significant amount of whole clusters and see relatively low amounts of new oak. Tel. (707) 591-0782
A classic Chardonnay that was aged all in neutral French oak barrels and puncheons, the 2011 Donelan Chardonnay Nancie has an apple, citrus, and lime scented array of fruit to go with background minerality, vanilla crème, and hints of nuttiness that emerge over the evening. Racy, focused, and clean on the palate, with knockout purity of fruit and building richness and length, it has a cool-climate feel with its precision and focus, yet holds onto beautiful California fruit and texture. Enjoy it over the coming 2-3 years.