Paso Robles Wineries
2022 Donati Family Vineyards Petit Verdot – Strong, Bold and Flavorful
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
By Eric 先魁Hwang – https://www.flickr.com/photos/travelwitheric/4008426871/
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grapes classically used in Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than other varieties in Bordeaux, so it was not cultivated to the extent in other portions of the world. The key to Petit Verdot is that it adds tannin, color and flavor when used in small amounts for blending. In the “new world” it has taken off as a standalone varietal. It is speculated that Petit Verdot predates Cabernet Sauvignon, yet the origins are unclear. First records of it appear in the eighteenth century. It is known for much hotter climates, making Paso Robles perfect for this grape!
Per the latest Grape Harvest report by the USDA, Petit Verdot was less than .0077% of the total red wine grape harvest with most going for blending. The AVA’s responsible for 76% of the total Petit Verdot production was Napa, Yolo County, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin and Riverside/San Diego areas.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
This wine is 98.5% Petit Verdot, 1.1% Petite Sirah and .4% Malbec. It is currently slated to be released in late Spring 2026 with only 76 cases being produced. The grapes come from the Bordonaro Vineyard, and the price is slated to be $56/bottle. Donati Family has been producing this as a standalone varietal since 2008! This vintage was allowed to age gracefully for 27 months in barrels. 25% of the barrels were brand new Eastern European oak and the balance of 75% was used more than once. When released it will have been bottled for over one year.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass possessed a dark and mysterious magenta color with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of black fruits of blackberry, plum and violets rise up into the senses. On the palate, this intensely layered wine provides the aforementioned fruits, coupled with a mellow earthiness. Key characteristics are vanilla and hazelnut counterbalanced by lavender and dried herbs. At the end, this is an inky and bold wine with layers of enjoyment. Personally, I believe this to be a wine to be enjoyed with food as opposed to be a standalone wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a stir-fried flank steak. The beef was thinly sliced, tossed in Chaka sauce with Dark & Smoky Flatiron Peppers, kosher salt, black pepper and stir fried on the stovetop. Served with white sesame seeds. Added to the stir fry were broccoli and slices of red pepper. Accompanied with homemade cauliflower rice with egg, onion and pork.
The wine being bold was able to cut thru the meat and yet provide just enough fruit to envelop the lightly spiced meat. Another very good food and wine pairing dinner
The Winery
Photo from Donati Family Vineyard
We met Briana Heywood, the winemaker, two years ago while in Paso Robles. They had won the Best of Class and Double Gold for their Cabernet Franc at the 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition and wanted to understand other wines they produced. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries. She is engaging and energetic with a personality that you just love listening to!
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct customer purchase and their wine club with approximately 600 cases produced for DTC. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere. Many of their other wines are for commercial and mass production with approximately 7,000 cases for the wholesale market. They are moderately priced for the consumer and a welcome change!
While not one of the “big major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. FYI, Briana will be pouring her wines at the Cabernet Franc Wine Stroll (Cab Franc and many others) on March 28th https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2026/02/03/7th-annual-cabernet-franc-and-many-other-wine-varieties-wine-stroll-on-march-28th/
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2024 LXV Blanc De Franc – An Elegant and Layered Beauty With a Subtle Message
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Our Friday Night Wine & Dine group met last Thursday evening to enjoy a meal at Verona18. Their special this evening was a blackened salmon, and I decided to pair it with this wine.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes, a pale light-yellow color. On the nose, floral aromas that changed throughout the wine temperature. On the palate, flavors of white peach and pear were dominant. Secondary flavors of minerality and a touch of vanilla. Most notable was the weightiness of this wine in the mouth due to being aged 10 months on lees with constant stirring in French oak barrels. The finish was a bit abbreviated, which only beckoned another sip. Each sip was contemplative trying to unlock the secret code to this graceful and delicate wine.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Besides the wine being mysterious and hiding nuances of subtle enjoyment, so the label is similar. Notice the label has writings in Sanskrit references sections of the Bhagavad Gita. The answer is straightforward with the upper portion referencing “earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and ego” referencing components of material matter. For LXV, Neeta explained that this “speaks beautifully to terroir” the elements that give wine its character.
The second reference, being the lower portion, states “the one who knows the truth thinks I do nothing at all”. This about the ego-less actor referencing the winemaker who as Neeta states “is fully engaged in the world yet knows the true self is untouched and the winemaker acts, but nature does the work”.
Truly both reference the wine grounded in terroir, the elements of earth, and speaks to effortless ego-fee creation (minimal intervention) that LXV strives for in their winemaking.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Had chosen this wine assuming raspberry and strawberry flavors would counterbalance the blackened salmon with its flavors and the acidity cut through the salmon. Upon reflection the blackened salmon flavor was a bit too much for this refined wine, nevertheless the food and wine were both tremendously enjoyable.
LXV Wines and Wine Tasting Experience
LXV provides a unique tasting experience located at 1306-B Pine Street, Paso Robles. They were rated one of the Top 10 tasting experiences as rated by USA Today. LXV, besides holding regular wine tastings, also provide an optional spice pairing. The spice pairings are far reaching with Peruvian, Mystic Orient, Smolder Notes, Turkish Shores, Shmeli Suneli and many more spice packets. One is whisked away with their varietal and proprietary blends to capture the adventures of different cultures and culinary treats.
Photo of Neeta Mittal from their website
The idea of exotic spices started with Neeta’s mother in a town south of Mumbai. Her mother would regularly visit the spice markets to purchase fragrant herbs and spices to go with their handmade Tandoori Masala. One of the goals of spice tasting is to open the confined discussion of pH and acidity of wine to a broad horizon of international flavors. Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more. Their wines receive ratings from 97 points to 99 points!!
Kunal and Neeta Mittal are the driving force behind their love affair with Cabernet Franc offerings. Currently they offer Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from France, Saint Émilion and their Willow Creek estate in Paso Robles. As they state “Maison Mittal, exists where Bordeaux and Paso conspire – two continents speaking one language of stone, discipline and time. We arrive not as a luxury, but as a reminder that wine can still be a practice of place, spoken with global fluency and crafted with unapologetic precision. The wines we leave behind will outlast the moment they were made.”
Photo of Kunal Mittal from their website
To read more about their journey, how they found Paso Robles and they quest to make Paso Robles the Cabernet Franc capital in California read the following links:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2023/12/26/lxv-wines-presented-cab-franc-day-paso-robles/
and
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A few other wines were enjoyed this evening with each person or couple bringing a wine of choice from their home.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2022 Donati Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – “Gifted Wines” & Velvety Tannins
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
We met Briana Heywood, the winemaker, two years ago while in Paso Robles. They had won the Best of Class and Double Gold for their Cabernet Franc at the 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition and wanted to understand other wines they produced. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries. She is engaging and energetic with a personality that you just love listening to!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon with .4% Petite Sirah, .3% Merlot and a smidgen of Petit Verdot to top off the wine in the barrels. The grapes come from the Aline’s vineyard that is sustainably farmed and certified in Paso Robles. The wine was fermented in 25% new American oak and 25% in new French oak with the balance of 50% being 2018 or older barrels. They were aged 27 months in barrel and once bottled, held for 10 months before being released in October 2025. Only 123 cases were produced and sold for $58/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a radiant purple and magenta sheen with medium viscosity. On the nose, reserved fruits of blackberries and plum. On the palate, this wine bursts forth with the aforementioned fruits with the addition of black cherries, then coupled with subtle leather and sweet pipe tobacco. On the finish, raspberries burst into the taste buds with a modicum of vanilla and dry earthiness. The tannins were velvety and polished, soft and rounded yet present.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a Cross Rib Roast. This was the first time that we had a Cross Rib Roast. The recipe was for a Garlicky Herb Cross Rib Roast, a cross rib roast also goes by the names of beef shoulder, chuck, Boston cut or English cut. The Cross Rib Roast was brushed with balsamic vinegar after inserting whole cloves of garlic into the roast. A paste then was applied consisting of minced garlic, thyme leaves, rosemary leaves, kosher salt, black pepper and olive oil.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Accompanying the meal were sauteed seasoned small halved red potatoes and Brussel sprouts. A very good food and wine pairing. The wine was so smooth, it is one of the few Cabernet Sauvignon wines you could enjoy with food or simply by itself.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct to customer purchase and their wine club with approximately 600 cases produced for DTC. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Many of their other wines are for commercial and mass production with approximately 7,000 cases for the wholesale market. They are moderately priced for the consumer and a welcome change!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While not one of the “big major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. I will look forward to a return visit on the next trip to Paso Robles AVA.
Sláinte,
Michael
Two Dracaena Wines Cabernet Franc’s – 2019 Classic and 2021 Reserve, Both Are Winners!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
It is often stated that “success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently”. No truer words sum up what Dracaena Cabernet Franc has done over the last ten years! Seven years ago, at the first International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition, Dracaena won Best of Show (overall) with the Professional Judges. They have consistently won awards every year since and we are now beginning the 7th Annual event. In addition, they have won Gold, Double Gold at SF Chronicle, 93 points by Decanter, won top 30 picks of wines from Paso Robles and too many others to list here.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Michael & Lori Budd were the force behind getting December 4th on the calendar as International Cabernet Franc Day. Lori, besides having a food science background and a graduate degree from UC Davis in the winemaking program, is a published author, award winning blog writer and podcast producer/host for Exploring the Wine Glass.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2019 Classic wine came from the Plummer Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County. and it is described as filled with “aromas described as spice and plum. The long finish is framed by structure tannins”. A key point not to be lost is that this wine winning awards at the International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition comes from judges all from the northern California region. It shows the quality of their product and the impartiality of the judges. Ditto for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with judges from various regions. Competitions are blind tastings so truly their wines stand out!
The wine possessed a beautiful dark chocolate on the finish and solid defined tannins. The 2019 Classic had eight percent Petit Verdot providing both great coloring and body to the wine. The current Classic vintage is 2023 and goes for $42/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2021 Reserve is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Plummer Vineyard. This wine fills the olfactory senses with dark fruits from the first smell. What follows are black cherry and dark chocolate. The finish is softer and mellower than the Classic but providing enormous mouth filling enjoyment. The current vintage is the 2023 Metz Vineyard Reserve and is priced at $55/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with seasoned and seared ribeye steak. Seasoned with applewood salt, mesquite seasoning, Woodfired garlic seasoning and Flatiron Pepper Company Hatch Valley Green (Hatch Green Chile, Jalapeno and Habanero peppers). Seared at 1500 degrees and served medium rare. Accompanied by fresh sauteed green beans and short and long brown rice (not shown).
A beautiful food and wine pairing. The 2019 Classic Dracaena Cabernet Franc with its stronger tannins interacted with the meat to soften the fat for a smooth flavor. The fruit of 2019 also helped in surrounding some of the heat from the spices.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Dracaena Wines is in Paso Robles with a tasting room located at 1244 Pine Street Suite 101B, in downtown Paso Robles. This is a dog friendly and comfortable setting to sip and interact with Lori and/or Mike on their wines. They currently produce, besides their two Cabernet Franc wines, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, Picpoul, Blanc de Franc and Cinnabari (a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cab Franc and 5% Merlot). I have tasted all but the Picpoul and each of the wines are delicious and solid representation of the varietal or blend.
A portion of their tasting room in Paso Robles Photo ©Michael Kelly
Previously I wrote a story comparing Dracaena Wines as a David verses Goliath story as a small winery making a big mark in the industry.
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2020/01/14/dracaena-wines-a-david-verses-goliath-story/
This small boutique winery is definitely getting noticed besides their Cabernet Franc awards, they have also won at the 2022 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge a Gold Medal and Best of Show for their Chenin Blanc.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2020 Optio Vineyards Grenache – “Optio” Latin Meaning Choice
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Two years ago, we met with winery owners Troy and Michelle LaMar on their 14-acre vineyard. Nine acres are currently under vine. The vineyard is located at the tail end of the Templeton district within the Geneseo District appellation. Their production is around 500 cases a year with the balance of the fruit being sold off. Their goal is to increase production steadily with club membership and getting the word out on their quality wines. They already have won many awards including for their 2022 Chardonnay, Las Vegas Global Platinum Medal with 96 points and their 2021 Estate Tempranillo, Las Vegas Global Platinum Medal also with 96 points! This is the little winery that not only could but has!!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Troy is a general surgeon in Los Angeles and met his wife Michelle as she was a floor nurse at the same hospital. She is now in nursing education. Today with their son LT, they spend as much time as possible on the estate. Their winemaker is Aaron Jackson from Tin City with 23 years of making gorgeous wines. Aaron’s background includes Four Vines, ONX and Saxum wineries. He earned his Wine & Viticulture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and spent a year in Australia where he earned a Master’s degree in Oenology.
The winery today produces Chardonnay, Inmesceo (meaning blend together of Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Syrah and Petite Sirah), Grenache, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah. Had the opportunity to taste each one (a few with different vintages) and uniquely different was that each one was a solid and exceptional wine. Not a so-so or average wine in their offering. Rare and very much appreciated I am sure by their customers.
The name Optio comes from the Latin word meaning “choice” which has paid off for the LaMar family. Troy while in medical school his first day heard a professor quote William Jennings Bryan “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.” Literally and physically, the little vineyard on top of the hill, has reached up to achieve many excellent wines.
More information on their wines and vineyards can be found in the previous story at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2023/12/07/optio-vineyards-the-little-winery-that-can/
The Wine – 2020 Optio Vineyards Grenache – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This style of Grenache is old world with layers of rich flavors and juicy, rustic tannins. On the eyes, a very dark blood red coloring with medium-full viscosity. On the nose aromas of plum blueberries, new leather, and clove waft into the senses. On the palate you are awakened to a lively and enjoyable juicy cherry followed by a complex finish of fig, licorice, molasses, and black cherry with hints of spices and dried herbs. The finish shows the earthy minerality and earthiness of these grapes. They use 100% neutral oak barrels and age the wine for 17 months. Only 75 cases were produced. This is one of the best Grenache wines I have experienced! Their current release is 2022 and goes for $62/bottle and worth every long-lasting sip.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was selected this evening to go with Udon noodles and chicken with broccoli stir-fry entrée. Enjoyed one glass with the meal and another after dinner. The juicy red fruit and spices stood up nicely with the vegetables and Udon noodles.
I left the winery with four bottles and wished I had purchased a few more as this was my last bottle. Time for another visit!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2021 JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Isosceles – One Great Wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The background for 30 years for the Isosceles philosophy has been to make it “their flagship wine and quality benchmark from Central Coast of California. A blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon supported by Cabernet Franc and Merlot” states Scott Shirley. Paso Robles grows each of these varietals to near perfection.
First looking into the glass with the wine, a bright and dark purple, almost black coloring and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, mellow and soft cherry with a hint of soft vanilla pipe tobacco. On the palate this is one of the smoothest wines imaginable yet with strong characteristics. Black cherry with notes of oak, cedar and subtle leather fills the mouth. There was also a hint of licorice. The finish was layered and complex with each sip exposing the genuine uniqueness of this wine. Tannins were present and velvety but kept in check. Wine Enthusiast rated it 93 points, but it is surely higher today in my opinion. This will make my Best Wines tasted in 2025, the annual list comes out in December. The alcohol level is 15.5%.
The current vintage 2022 sells for $85/bottle and is just slightly different from the 2021 mix which was comprised of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a filet mignon BBQ’ed to medium rare. Accompanied by a fresh Cesar salad and mashed potatoes (not shown). The food and wine pairing was delicious with the wine tannins helping with the meat and embracing each morsel with fruit. Another excellent food and wine pairing this evening.
The Winery
Photo from JUSTING Vineyards & Winery website
The winery started first with a philosophy of taking the best of the Old-World meeting with the New World with an imaginative blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The goal of bringing about the Right Bank wonders of these two grapes and making an outlandish wine was the cornerstone of their existence. Herbs, red fruit with structure and elegance came together in their Justification blend.
Photo from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery website
Justin Baldwin, owner and founder of Justin Vineyards and Winery summed up the goal very neatly with the statement “We believe the wine should be exceptional from every angle. I personally invite you to discover our award-winning tradition that starts with our limestone-rich soil in Paso Robles and ends when the last glass is poured”.
The winery was founded in 1961 when they (Justin & Deborah Baldwin) purchased their 160 acre estate in the Adelaide Hills. It is located 15 miles west of Paso Robles.
Photo from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery website
Their talented wine maker is Scott Shirley who came to Justin in 2012. He is a graduate of UC Davis and worked at Opus One after college. His Justification blend in 2017 was named top wine in the world in 2017 and received 94 points from Wine Spectator for the 2014 vintage.
While having experienced their Isosceles and Justification wines, they produce many others. The reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, various red blends, Pinot Noir (Russian River), Malbec, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah. Their white wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (both from the Central Coast & Sonoma County) and Viognier. Looking forward to tasting several of these other wines soon.
Sláinte,
Michael
2023 LXV Wines Blanc de Franc – An Exquisite and Rare Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a fine line between poetry and wine. Add the rich and proud heritage of Indian culture, the descriptions become intertwined. When thinking about Indian poetry it conjures up rich imagery and philosophical depth. Adding a lyrical poetry element and you have an appropriate description of this wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Immediately upon pulling this wine out of the cellar is the noticeable unique coloring. While being a “blanc” it possesses a color of salmon, peach and gold in a radiant presentation. Upon opening the wine aromas enter the senses and provide a warm greeting of exotic fruits. On the palate is where this wine shines with liveliness, somewhere between a jitterbug dance and a sensuous tango. Flavors of fresh white peach dominate and closely followed by honeydew melon. The textual feel is unique for a white Cabernet Franc filling the mouth from corner to corner. The weightiness is very similar to a Roussanne/Marsanne blend. This heaviness comes from the sur lie stirring and élevage. The finish provides a beautiful clean minerality and a touch of vanilla.
It is 100% Cabernet Franc Blanc and lists for $75/bottle. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol and 115 cases were produced. The grapes came from Eckert Family Vineyards in Adelaide and were selected from sun exposure vines to burn off the pyrazines. The grapes where gently pressed and fermented in tank and then aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted list for 2025 in the above $51 category. The unique color, substantial mouthfeel and exotic tastes catapulted the wine for inclusion.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with chicken and bok choy stir fry. In addition to the chicken and bok choy, white mushrooms were added. All were cooked on the stove in a cast iron pan with cornstarch, canola oil, dark sesame oil, white onions, ginger root, minced garlic, water and a tinge of soy sauce. Again, a delicious summertime “light” meal with a refreshing wine, hit the bullseye!
The Winery and Wine Tasting Experience
LXV provides a unique tasting experience. So much so that they were rated one of the Top 10 tasting experiences as rated by USA Today. LXV, besides holding regular wine tastings, they also provide an optional spice pairing. The spice pairings are far reaching with Peruvian, Mystic Orient, Smolder Notes, Turkish Shores, Shmeli Suneli and many more spice packets. One is whisked away with their varietal and proprietary blends to capture the adventures of different cultures and culinary treats.
Photo of Neeta Mittal from their website
The idea of exotic spices started with Neeta’s mother in a town south of Mumbai. Her mother would regularly visit the spice markets to purchase fragrant herbs and spices to go with their handmade Tandoori Masala. One of the goals of spice tasting is to open the confined discussion of pH and acidity of wine to a broad horizon of international flavors.
Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more. For more information you can read a previously published story:
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2021 Donati Family Vineyard Petite Sirah – “Gifted Wines”
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
This story unfolded from Donati’s participation in the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition on March 5th. They won Best of Category in the $56-$70 California and Double Gold Medals from the Professional Judges. They also received a Silver Medal from the People’s Choice Judges. This price category included wines from Lodi, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Alexander Valley, Napa Valley and Temecula and perhaps one of the toughest categories in the competition. This was their second year participating.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While attending the #CabFrancMasters in Paso I contacted Donati Wines to arrange a visit as I did not know the winery. We agreed to meet on Monday after the event and what a fun, delightful and engaging visit pursued with winemaker Brianna Heywood. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
During the visit with Briana, we sampled various wines from their award-winning lineup. We left with two of their wines, one being Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah is best known as offering a more intense full-bodied experience with a signature blend of dark fruit, spice and chocolate notes. A different grape varietal than Syrah.
This Petite Sirah is made with 96.7% Petite Sirah, 2.8% Petit Verdot and .5% Malbec. It won Double Gold at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition. The grapes come from HuerHuero Vineyard in Paso Robles. The grapes are hand-picked with primary fermentation in macro bins and secondary fermentation in barrel. The barrels used were 50% new Russian oak, medium toasted heads and 50% neutral oak. The wine was aged 23 months in barrel and held in the bottle for one year before releasing. Only 68 cases were produced and listed at the winery for $56/bottle. The wine comes in at 14.9% alcohol.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a very dark and brooding inky purple color with medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, tightly bound up scents of blackberries. On the palate, the dark fruits of blackberry and blueberry reign prominently. Secondary flavors of earthiness, black pepper and a tinge of dark chocolate complete the sipping experience. On the finish, high tannins and acidity and a complete mouth filling experience provide bold and vigorous enjoyment.
The Donati Family Vineyard Petite Sirah displays all the key components of this beautiful varietal. This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines Tasted during the year for 2025. Only 3-4% of the 1500-1800 wines tasted make this list.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a 24-hour marinated and then BBQ’ed Carne Asada steak.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The marinade ingredients included, fresh chopped Jalapeño peppers (3 with seeds), olive oil, soy sauce, fresh squeezed orange and lime juice, minced garlic cloves, ground cumin, Kosher salt, ground black pepper with a flank steak. Drizzled with a side batch of marinade fresh marinade sauce and a modicum of fresh squeezed lime juice. Accompanying the meal were sauteed broccoli and Spanish rice with tomatoes & green chiles. The Petite Sirah with its fruit surrounding the spicy meat and was a wonderful pairing.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct to customer purchase and their wine club. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Here is the lineup of some of their commercial and mass-produced wines. They are moderately priced for the consumer.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
They also have a fair number of varieties of wines for their club members and are sold only in the tasting room. The tasting room is quaint and inviting to enjoy sipping some or perhaps all their wines!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A great visit meeting Brianna with her enthusiastic energy, bright smile and her knowledge of both the vines and making wine. While not one of the “major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. I will look forward to a return visit on the next trip to Paso Robles AVA.
Sláinte,
Michael