2016 Donelan Two Brothers Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California

The 2016 Donelan Two Brothers Pinot Noir is named for brothers Tripp and Cushing Donelan and brings together fruit from Sonoma County sites, with Bennett Valley providing much of the wine’s earthy and spicy character while Sonoma Coast fruit adds freshness and length. Donelan described 2016 as a particularly favorable “Goldilocks” vintage, with bud break, flowering and veraison arriving on schedule and a slow, even harvest that allowed the fruit to mature gradually. The wine is 100% Pinot Noir and reflects the winery’s focus on combining different vineyard sites to create a balanced Sonoma County expression.

The fruit was fermented with native yeast and native malolactic fermentation, with approximately 20% whole clusters, then aged for 18 months with 30% new French oak. The 2016 vintage shows rose petals, cranberry, dried cherry and crushed raspberry alongside mint, potpourri, dusty earth, white pepper and whole-cluster spice, with medium body, bright acidity and a long finish. Only 479 cases were produced, making this a small-production Pinot Noir with an elegant, classically styled character.