Donati Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Ripe Bing Cherry and notes of Black Pepper
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2020-
James
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James
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Wilfred
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As a young boy, Ron Donati grew up in South San Francisco, the son of a first generation Italian-American family. His grandfather Albino Donati made his own wine for the family dinner table. Ron has carried that legacy forward with the mission of producing wines of exceptional quality regardless of budget.
Ron and his three sons Matt, Mark and Brad established Donati Family Vineyard in 1998. They acquired vineyards in the small town of Paicines, CA, located on California's Central Coast. The location enjoys long warm days followed by cool nights thanks to the marine influence of the Monterey Bay, creating an ideal environment for growing premium wine grapes. Paicines grapes are sought after by well-known established brands as well as discerning small production wineries alike.
The core of Donati Family Vineyard's award- winning wine portfolio has always been focused on Bordeaux varieties. These include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as high-quality Meritage-style blends, in addition to our family reserve wines that include Ezio Cabernet and The Immigrant, named after Ron's father and grandfather, respectively. The versatility of the Paicines AVA allows the winery to also produce select amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Syrah, and Grenache. All of the fruit is sourced from our sustainably farmed estate vineyards.
The Donati Family Vineyard winery is located in Templeton, California, in the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country. It was purchased in 2007 and remodeled extensively to create a warm and welcoming tasting room and hospitality center, as well as an outdoor picnic area with Bocce courts.
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.