Donnas Rosso 2019 90WA

Caves Cooperatives de Donnas

Vallee d’Aosta, Italy

$31.99 on 6+ (code: 6saves2)
$33.99 reg

Grapes: 95% Nebbiolo & 5% Freisa and Neyret
Vineyards: From vineyards close to Donnas Pont-Saint-Martin and Bard Perloz
Soils: Rocky. Glacial run-off and schist.
Winemaking: Hand-harvested. Pergola trellising systems. Ferments in stainless steel. Aged for 10-12 in 25 HL oak casks (botti).

Our Tasting Note: Medium ruby color, lighter red edges. The nose is med+ with currants, tart cherries and blackberries, some savory spice notes, also licorice and pencil shavings, some crushed rose petals, very fine indeed. The palate has med+ acidity, med/med+ tannin, a med/slightly med+ body, with med+ flavor intensity and finish that draws on the fruit and spices and those fine young tannin and fresh acidity. If you love Nebbiolo you will love this!

90 pts Wine Advocate
The Caves de Donnas 2019 Valle d’Aoste Donnas is predominantly Nebbiolo with smaller parts of Freisa and Neyret grapes. The wine is fleshed out and soft with wild rose, redcurrant, grilled herb and cherry cola. It feels smooth on the palate with easy fruit tones and medium depth. There is some spicy red cedarwood on the close. Fruit comes from very steep vineyards with rocky soils and south-southeast exposures from 350 to 500 meters in elevation. Some 40,000 bottles of this fun wine were made. Caves de Donnas is a cooperative winery that features a tightly knit group of farmers who are each responsible for a very small terraced vineyard, mostly with Valdostana pergola-trained vines held up with chestnut wood posts. This estate does not appear to have an importer to the United States.

“Caves de Donnas may be a co-op winery, but it’s also one of the top producers in Valle d’Aosta. The winery produces a small portfolio that is all focused on Nebbiolo (referred to as Picotendro in these parts). Here in the southern tip of Valle d’Aosta, at around 300 meters and all from steep, terraced vineyards, Nebbiolo takes on a more alpine inspired personality, becoming a bit more peppery and floral, yet still with the depth that you’d expect from the variety. With everyone looking north for their new Nebbiolo experience these days, it’s only so long before they find Donnas.”~Antonio Galloni