Reviews & Ratings

2012 Donelan Chardonnay "Nancie"

Winery: Donelan

Vintage: 2012

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Nancie"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Sonoma County

State or country: CA

Price: $54

Cases produced: 1,260

KWG Score: 91.5 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (92)

Review date: August 1, 2014

Wine Review: This straw colored Chardonnay from Donelan opens with a mild pineapple and gentle oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is a very tasty Bosc pear with notes of mild lemon verbena. I also detected subtle hints of gentle pineapple, minerality and faint new vanilla oak in the background. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chardonnay is very food friendly and would pair perfectly with chicken francese or chicken picatta. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: The 2012 vintage allowed for flavors to develop gradually, producing a wine of incredible depth, uncompromising energy, and a long finish. As our blend matures, so does our ability to produce a supple, layered Chardonnay. The wine, predominately fermented in neutral oak, finds balance with choice coopers that offer enticing spice that mirrors some of the cool-climate flavors and minerality that these vineyards produce. The nose offers immediate aromas of pear, wildflower honey, fresh linen, and lemon meringue pie. Consistent with 2010 and 2011, the mouth feel combines surprising freshness with ample richness, making the wine versatile to pair with food or enjoy on its own.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Donelan-2012-Nancie-Chardonnay.