2019 Donelan Pinot Noir Two Brothers

The 2019 Pinot Noir Two Brothers is a very pretty, juicy wine. It offers lovely forward fruit character, but in the ethereal, understated style that is the signature for this bottling. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, orange peel, dried herbs and spice all grace this inviting, mid-weight Pinot. The 25% whole clusters are nicely integrated.

A transparent ruby color, the 2019 Pinot Noir Two Brothers is ripe and spicy with pure red cherry, cola spices, and forest herbs. Medium-bodied and juicy, with fine tannins and delicate floral spices of rose petal, ripe raspberry, and fresh earth, it’s clean and has a good length on the finish. Drink 2023-2033. Joe Donelan came to the wine world after he received what he calls “a life-changing education” from a sommelier on Nantucket in the 1980s. Today he is joined by his two sons, Tripp and Cushing, who oversee sales and marketing respectively. David Milner has been the head winemaker since 2017 after previously working at Groth and Eisele Vineyard. Donelan himself has worked with the Obsidian Vineyard in Knights Valley since 2001 and was able to purchase the site in 2015. Sadly, in 2017, the vineyard fell victim to that year’s fires, but they have since put a new emphasis on replanting with greater vine density. The style of the estate certainly does not shy away from ripeness, although they are wines with finesse and elegance. I am especially a fan of the wines they’re producing in the cooler Bennett Valley. The wines for this report were tasted at their Santa Rosa winery in May.