19 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Donum 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the “ABC” of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a different interpretation: Always Bring Chardonnay. That’s exactly what I did when friends invited me over for dinner. I knew a well-made Chardonnay would be versatile enough to pair with the entire meal, and the Donum 2022 Russian River Valley Chardonnay proved me right. Elegant, balanced, and incredibly food-friendly, it is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

About Donum

The Donum Estate is known for crafting terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that reflect the distinct character of their vineyard sites throughout Sonoma County. While many know Donum for its estate wines in Carneros, the winery also produces a Russian River Valley Chardonnay from a unique vineyard that showcases a different expression of the variety.

For this Chardonnay, the fruit comes from Winside Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Originally planted entirely to Pinot Noir, in 2015 they grafted a two-acre block to Chardonnay. The site’s loamy, sandy soils provide excellent drainage, while the warmer Russian River Valley climate produces slightly riper fruit than Donum’s Carneros Chardonnay. At the same time, the sandy soils help preserve vibrant acidity, resulting in a wine that balances richness with freshness.

Tasting Notes

The Donum 2022 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is fermented and aged in French oak barrels, spending approximately 16 months on its lees to build texture and complexity. Light to medium straw in color, the wine opens with aromas of apple and lemon that gradually evolve into subtle hazelnut notes as it opens in the glass. The palate offers flavors of white peach, green apple, and wet river stone. Textured yet vibrant, the wine finishes long with lively acidity and impressive complexity. This is a Chardonnay that is layered, elegant, and beautifully balanced.

Food Pairing

Chardonnay’s ability to pair with a wide range of foods is one of its greatest strengths. We started with a glass of the wine, then enjoyed it with a rich and textured lima bean soup with carrots, a spinach and feta salad with crispy gnocchi, and a sautéed chicken breast with asparagus. The texture of the wine gave it the substance to match each dish, and the bright acidity cut through the proteins and fats. It was a perfect wine to enjoy the meal from start to finish.

Where To Purchase

The Donum 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley retails for around $85. I had this wine in my wine fridge for a couple of years, so it is not readily available. But check out Donum wines to find a current vintage of any of their Chardonnays.