2015 Donati Family Reserve GSM, Paicines, Central Coast
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Cherry, cherry-cola, mocha / hazlenut. Berry cobbler, licorice. Vanilla, crème brulee
Taste: Nice acidity. Soft tannin structure. Spicy. Dark cherries, hint of strawberry. Oak dominant and delicious. White peppercorn, black raspberries.
Finish: Smooth and elegant. Nicely balanced. Oak impact is strong and welcomed.
Specs
Vintage: 2015
Blend: 54% Syrah, 42% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre
Appellation: Paicines (Central Coast)
Aging: 29 months, 20% New French Oak
Alcohol: 13.9%
RS: .02%
Malic Acid: .06g/L
TA: 5.85 g/L
pH: 3.95
Production: 115 Cases
2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant, Paicines, Central Coast
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Plum, dark cherry, tobacco leaf, clove, black pepper. Deep, dark fruit notes.
Taste: Fruit explosion. Ripe cherries, raspberry preserve. Slight ash. Cedar box.
Finish: Velvety tannins, cherry tart dessert, long, oaky finish.
Specs
Vintage: 20114
Blend: 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation – Paicines (Central Coast)
Aging: 36 months, 100% New French Oak
Alcohol: 14.1%
RS: .036%
Malic Acid: .09g/L
TA: 5.66 g/L
pH: 3.80
Production: 50 Cases
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x 2015 Donati Family Reserve GSM, Paicines, Central Coast
2x 2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant, Paicines, Central Coast
Case:
6x 2015 Donati Family Reserve GSM, Paicines, Central Coast
6x 2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant, Paicines, Central Coast
As a young boy, Ron Donati grew up in South San Francisco, the son of a first generation Italian-American family. One of his fondest memories was the sights and smells of his grandfather making wine in his basement. Like most Italian immigrants, Albino Donati made his own wine for the family dinner table. As an adult, Ron became a successful entrepreneur with a penchant for making quality products that were attainable to all, not just a select few. This same passion serves as the foundation and guiding mission of Donati Family Vineyard today. It is our goal to produce wines of exceptional quality regardless of budget.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
Donati Family Reserve Mixed Reds - $40 = 13.32%
I’m very happy to have been selected as a lab rat for the 2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant
Strangely I never received an email from WCC alerting me that a bottle was on its way, but fortunately UPS gave me about a 48hr heads up so I knew I’d have to be home to receive the package.
Sunday evening I recruited a friend to help develop notes for this report and we both really enjoyed this wine. At 14.1% abv, the alcohol is well hidden/integrated. The wine is smooth, balanced, and dare I say flawless? Not a single thing was out of place or disjointed. All of the characteristics sung harmoniously together. I will note there was some sediment, which isn’t a big deal, but just be prepared for that.
Upon PnP, initial aromas are of plum, fig, and blackberry. There’s also a little earthiness and a hint of wood.
On the palate there’s plum, black cherry, and a bit of spice. The wine is fruit forward which gives the perception of sweetness, but that quickly balances out mid-palate and you get a nice dry chalky/dusty texture.
Black cherry lingers on the long drying finish, which keeps you wanting another sip.
Of the snacks on hand, I think the fresh strawberries and the dark chocolate were the best pairings. Both brought out some tartness in the wine which cut right through the sweetness of the strawberries and the richness of the chocolate.
I asked my friend what his best guess was for the MSRP and he said maybe around $25. Since Donati is no stranger here on CM, I had a somewhat educated guess of $35-$40 and figured the case price might be around $20. After checking the winery’s website, I found this is listed at $75. In my opinion that seems like a bit much, but my friend and I agreed this is a wine we’d both enjoy having again and after seeing the case price at less than $22 per bottle, this is definitely an offer with great QPR.
The bottle has been recorked and is sitting on the kitchen counter at room temperature. I’ll revisit the wine and check back in with an update if there are any changes.
Thanks go out to @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl , the rest of the Casemates crew, AND of course the Donati family for the opportunity to Lab Rat this wine and bringing us this wonderful offer.
I just returned to the office this week after much needed R&R to find a bottle and lovely Lab Rat note from Alice and the WCC team explaining the “rogue” bottle of Donati Family Vineyard’s 2015 GSM that showed up while I was away. A southern Rhône blend consisting of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, GSM pairs well with meats (like chicken, beef, duck, lamb, especially if they are spiced!) and cheeses; this bottle is no exception.
Upon initial pop and pour, the wine is a ruby red color; I get dark berry aromas like black cherry, raspberry, and dark chocolate. Even some coffee tones! Once tasted, the wine is well balanced with elegant structure and rich, smooth tannins. It is very enjoyable!
One type of cuisine I seem to have difficulty pairing wine with is Asian cuisine, particularly spicy meats (my recent favorite is Burmese) - this wine would pair perfectly with this type of cuisine at your favorite Asian restaurant.
To note: The GSM bottle is individually numbered out of 1344 bottles (my bottle was #650). I’m no mathematician () but I calculate that out to 110 total cases. Limited production here folks.
At the case price, this seems like a no-brainer - I’ll be lurking over the next 24 hours in case anyone has any questions.
A little shy of 48 hours after initial PnP, the wine is still holding up well. Not much has changed aromatically. On the palate, it’s a little softer around the edges, but it still has plenty of zip and spice. Not flabby by any means. This is a very pleasant wine and a great example of how enjoyable Merlot can be.
2015 Donati Family Reserve GSM, Paicines, Central Coast
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant, Paicines, Central Coast
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $720/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 30 - Friday, Sep 3
Donati Family Reserve Mixed Reds
4 bottles for $99.99 $25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $259.99 $21.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015 Donati Family Reserve GSM
2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
Donati Family Reserve Mixed Reds - $40 = 13.32%
I’m very happy to have been selected as a lab rat for the
2014 Donati Barrel Reserve The Immigrant
Strangely I never received an email from WCC alerting me that a bottle was on its way, but fortunately UPS gave me about a 48hr heads up so I knew I’d have to be home to receive the package.
Sunday evening I recruited a friend to help develop notes for this report and we both really enjoyed this wine. At 14.1% abv, the alcohol is well hidden/integrated. The wine is smooth, balanced, and dare I say flawless? Not a single thing was out of place or disjointed. All of the characteristics sung harmoniously together. I will note there was some sediment, which isn’t a big deal, but just be prepared for that.
Upon PnP, initial aromas are of plum, fig, and blackberry. There’s also a little earthiness and a hint of wood.
On the palate there’s plum, black cherry, and a bit of spice. The wine is fruit forward which gives the perception of sweetness, but that quickly balances out mid-palate and you get a nice dry chalky/dusty texture.
Black cherry lingers on the long drying finish, which keeps you wanting another sip.
Of the snacks on hand, I think the fresh strawberries and the dark chocolate were the best pairings. Both brought out some tartness in the wine which cut right through the sweetness of the strawberries and the richness of the chocolate.
I asked my friend what his best guess was for the MSRP and he said maybe around $25. Since Donati is no stranger here on CM, I had a somewhat educated guess of $35-$40 and figured the case price might be around $20. After checking the winery’s website, I found this is listed at $75. In my opinion that seems like a bit much, but my friend and I agreed this is a wine we’d both enjoy having again and after seeing the case price at less than $22 per bottle, this is definitely an offer with great QPR.
The bottle has been recorked and is sitting on the kitchen counter at room temperature. I’ll revisit the wine and check back in with an update if there are any changes.
Thanks go out to @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl , the rest of the Casemates crew, AND of course the Donati family for the opportunity to Lab Rat this wine and bringing us this wonderful offer.
@kawichris650 great rattage & pics - thank you
@WCCWineGirl
Thanks!
It is interesting to me that The Immigrant is 96% Merlot but is being marketed as “red wine”. After all this time is there still a Sideways effect?
@davirom Could be the blend varies year to year and by just calling it a blend additional label paperwork approval is avoided?
@rjquillin
I think you hit the nail on the head, based on the spec sheets on their website of various vintages.
I just returned to the office this week after much needed R&R to find a bottle and lovely Lab Rat note from Alice and the WCC team explaining the “rogue” bottle of Donati Family Vineyard’s 2015 GSM that showed up while I was away. A southern Rhône blend consisting of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, GSM pairs well with meats (like chicken, beef, duck, lamb, especially if they are spiced!) and cheeses; this bottle is no exception.
Upon initial pop and pour, the wine is a ruby red color; I get dark berry aromas like black cherry, raspberry, and dark chocolate. Even some coffee tones! Once tasted, the wine is well balanced with elegant structure and rich, smooth tannins. It is very enjoyable!
One type of cuisine I seem to have difficulty pairing wine with is Asian cuisine, particularly spicy meats (my recent favorite is Burmese) - this wine would pair perfectly with this type of cuisine at your favorite Asian restaurant.
To note: The GSM bottle is individually numbered out of 1344 bottles (my bottle was #650). I’m no mathematician (
) but I calculate that out to 110 total cases. Limited production here folks.
At the case price, this seems like a no-brainer - I’ll be lurking over the next 24 hours in case anyone has any questions.
@coolac5 Thank you for the report & glad you got some R&R.
If someone in San Diego wants the Immigrant, I’ll take 2-4 bottles of the GSM.
/giphy glassy-colossal-sleet
After being impressed by the mixed whites a few months ago, I’m in for a case of red
Follow-up notes:
A little shy of 48 hours after initial PnP, the wine is still holding up well. Not much has changed aromatically. On the palate, it’s a little softer around the edges, but it still has plenty of zip and spice. Not flabby by any means. This is a very pleasant wine and a great example of how enjoyable Merlot can be.