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2017 Donum West Slope Pinot Noir

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

October 13, 2024 - $81

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RATINGS

95Wine Spectator

Offers full-bore richness, with enveloping flavors of dark plum, cherry compote and raspberry tart that are creamy and lusciously spiced, in a plush style. Chocolate mousse notes fill in midpalate and linger into the finish, which offers a surplus of Asian spice accents.

94The Wine Advocate

Pale to medium ruby, it features cranberry sauce, warm blueberries, tangerine peel, dried black tea leaves, cinnamon stick and rhubarb with notions of dusty earth, violet and woodsmoke. Light to medium-bodied, the palate explodes with flavors of sweet, ripe berries and oodles of spice checked by earthy notions, framed with softly grainy tannins and great freshness and finishing very long and layered.

PRODUCER

Donum

Donum Estate is comprised of estate vineyards in Carneros, the Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley. The estate is owned by Winside Inc., a partnership of five Danish investors. The president is Anne Moller-Racke, who has more than 30 years experience in vineyard management and operations in Napa Valley. Donum produces estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

REGION

United States, California, Napa Valley, Carneros

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.