“At The Donum Property, we’re on the lookout for class and steadiness in every thing,” said Dan Fishman, Vice President of Winemaking and Vineyards at Donum, throughout a current digital tasting of 4 excellent wines (despatched as samples). His mission is to “make the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in California whereas preserving pure sources.” Impressed by the unbelievable wines and the tales of the Property I heard from Dan, I had the chance to personally go to The Donum Property in mid-November. What I found was not solely extra distinctive examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, however sensible meals pairings with every and probably the most breathtaking collections of artwork I’ve ever seen outdoors of a world class museum.
The Donum Property
Based in 2001, The Donum Property was bought by Hong Kong–primarily based artwork collectors Allan and Mei Warburg in 2011. Quickly thereafter, the couple added their private artwork assortment to the property. Situated in Carneros, an iconic wine area tucked between Napa and Sonoma Counties, the Property is a sensory expertise from starting to finish. It features a winemaking facility, up to date hospitality middle that soothes the soul by merely strolling inside, a working natural culinary and slicing backyard replete with goats and sheep, and a regenerative natural licensed lavender subject, olive tree grove and plum orchard.
It additionally consists of The Donum Assortment, one of many largest non-public sculpture collections on the planet. Bonus? It’s accessible to guests. In actual fact, there are greater than 50 large-scale artworks within the Assortment; over a 3rd of the items have been crafted particularly for the location on which they stand. Allan Warburg is Danish and Mei is Chinese language; as an homage to their roots, worldwide artists representing 18 nations spanning 6 continents embrace Ai Weiwei, Ghada Amer, Doug Aitken, Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, Keith Haring and Subodh Gupta.
Winemaking at The Donum Property
Identical to the artworks gracing the panorama, Dan Fishman and the winemaking crew at Donum Property “work with nature, not towards it.” We wish to “deliver as a lot life again to the soil,” he shared. “Vines thrive and produce premium fruit to showcase a few of Carneros’ distinctive terroir-expressive wines.” Fishman added that “we enable the microclimate to point out – there is no such thing as a heavy-handed winemaking.” Donum “farms to low yields, capturing the power and essence of the land” and its barrel program boasts “the very best examples to make sure high quality.” Annual manufacturing is roughly 13K circumstances and wines can be found in 20 states at the moment.
The Property in Carneros spans 220 acres planted between 1990 and 2018 on the gently rolling hills rising from the San Pablo Bay. The world is dwelling to a wide range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones; Pinot Noir to Chardonnay plantings are 10:1. 4 Property vineyards boast natural certification by the California Licensed Natural Farmers (CCOF) group and Regenerative Natural Licensed by the Regenerative Natural Alliance (ROA).
Picture Credit score: The Donum Property
Through the digital tasting we swirled and sipped 4 wines. 1044 circumstances are produced of the primary choice, 2021 Single Winery Carneros Chardonnay ($75). Aged for 16 months in 30% French oak, wealthy aromas of lemon, golden apples and trace of baking spice led to a palate that burst with minerality, orchard fruit, baked apples and sprint of pepper. A lingering end and sensible acidity rounded out this beautiful Chardonnay.
Aged for 16 months in 66% French oak is 2021 Single Winery Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir -Thomas ($95). Thomas Winery was initially planted in 1974 and was bought by Donum in 2016. This wine is of the “prime Pinot Noir barrels” from the winery. On the nostril, I discovered intense oak notes, florals, Christmas spice and darkish berries. The palate supplied complicated layers of blueberries, root beer (!), and cloves on a basis of agency tannins and vibrant acidity. 72 circumstances are produced.
2021 Single Winery Carneros Pinot Noir Three Hills ($95) is from 4 Pinot Noir clones cultivated within the winery’s cooler, later ripening parts. Wafting from the glass have been notes of blackberries, violets, and cherries. Framed with delicate tannins and reasonable acidity, the palate exuded flavors of vanilla, baking spice and ripe apples. Aged for 16 months in 45% new French oak, 1046 circumstances are produced.
Additionally from Thomas Winery is 2022 Single Winery Carneros Pinot Noir TFV ($250). Aged for 16 months in 60% new French oak, 752 circumstances are produced. One other lovely instance of Pinot Noir, I discovered intense aromas of cocoa, black fruit, sassafras and flint. Juicy notes of cherries, cinnamon and dried apricot have been scrumptious, as was the contemporary fruit end. Structured with agency tannins and just-right acidity, that is one other instance of a wine expressing distinct terroir.
Deal with Your Senses When You Go to The Donum Property
Reservations at The Donum Property are a should, so reserve your expertise early. Click on HERE for the not-to-be-missed selections.
The 90-minute Uncover Expertise with an added all-terrain automobile guided tour of the artwork assortment, farm and vineyards, was our choice. After receiving a refreshing splash of 2023 Donum Rose of Pinot Noir, our educated wine educator, Ivy Huang, led us on the tour throughout which she shared details about the vineyards, artwork assortment, farm and extra. Afterwards, we relaxed in a non-public tasting room with superb views of the panorama whereas Ivy guided us by means of 4 wines paired with canapes made with contemporary elements from the Property gardens.
Exhibiting wealthy fruit with excessive acidity, 2021 Chardonnay from Russian River Valley ($75) was distinctive with our pairing of cured kanpachi, pears, Chardonnay gel, lemon verbena and finger lime caviar. 2021 Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley ($95) was lean and centered; every sip burst with taste complemented with bites of chantarelle mushroom, pomegranate, molasses and manchego. 2021 Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley ($95) was savory and boasted floral notes – what a delight with Painted Hills carpaccio, pickled shallot, olive tapenade and aioli. Lastly, 2021 Pinot Noir from Dwelling Ranch ($95) in Carneros was ripe and juicy with an array of cherry components; a shock (and scrumptious) pairing was Property honeynut squash, almond crumble, apples, urfa and maple. Kudos to the Government Chef, Fiorella Butron for growing the notable pairings.
Why will I return to The Donum Property? That is, definitely, the very best instance of how wonderful wine, breathtaking artworks and inventive delicacies intersect to fulfill all of the senses.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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