“Venus” is a refreshing, lovely blend of 90% Roussanne
and 10% Viognier, once again primarily from Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett
Valley.
Dry Stack Vineyard is a cool vineyard that ripens the
Roussanne very slowly. The grapes were harvested at a potential alcohol of 12%.
Viognier from Kobler Family Vineyard was added to bring a “lift” to the
aromatics along with a touch more depth to the mouth feel. Those looking for
low alcohol offerings will love the 2009 Venus. One would never believe that
based on the intensity of flavor.
Named after Venus, the goddess of both love and
fragrance, this wine had a lot of great floral flavors.
This wine, with its aromas of beeswax, lily, and freesia, is complexly flavored but without the overbearing weight of a typical Roussanne. The 2009 Venus exhibits crisp, fresh, delicate but impressively intense notes of lychee nuts, caramelized citrus, spring flowers, fresh pears and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with lively acidity as well as an exotic perfume and a dry, zesty style, I would recommend drinking it on the early side because of its exceptional aromatics. Great dry finish and a minerality on the back end.
This wine, with its aromas of beeswax, lily, and freesia, is complexly flavored but without the overbearing weight of a typical Roussanne. The 2009 Venus exhibits crisp, fresh, delicate but impressively intense notes of lychee nuts, caramelized citrus, spring flowers, fresh pears and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with lively acidity as well as an exotic perfume and a dry, zesty style, I would recommend drinking it on the early side because of its exceptional aromatics. Great dry finish and a minerality on the back end.
The moderate 2009 season promoted freshness and
structure, placing the fulcrum (point) of the mouth feel in the support of
acidity. The Donelans’ describe their philosophy of tension in winemaking in the
following way; “This season, more so than many recent vintages, allowed us to
preserve tension without sacrificing substance. Tension is the wire from which
all in wine is hung; tension without substance is tart, light, and wanting;
substance with no tension can be obtrusive, if pleasurably broad. But tension
with substance is structured, supple (even plush), and produces a more enticing
wine than any other combination.”
From QLI website: Not that it is a problem, but a winery in a business park in
Santa Rosa really seems far far away from the multi-million dollar palaces of
Napa. However, a walk into the "winery" makes you realize that there is actual
work going on here. Its not just perfectly polished casks and shiny floors.
People go about tasting and assembling wines and whatever else needs to be
done. What you probably would not imagine is that these wines are some of the
highest rated Rhone Rangers to come out of California.
However, things here started with a different name about 10 years ago. Pax was the name of the winery, named after Pax Mahle the previous winemaker. He made wines that were rather big, if not over the top and quite delicious. However, since around 2007 things have changed drastically. The name of the winery has changed to Donelan Wines, the owners' name and a new winemaker has come on board. The young man now in charge is Tyler Thomas, who makes wines that would astonish more than one of us.
However, things here started with a different name about 10 years ago. Pax was the name of the winery, named after Pax Mahle the previous winemaker. He made wines that were rather big, if not over the top and quite delicious. However, since around 2007 things have changed drastically. The name of the winery has changed to Donelan Wines, the owners' name and a new winemaker has come on board. The young man now in charge is Tyler Thomas, who makes wines that would astonish more than one of us.
Bennett Valley
& Dry Stack Vineyard
Bennett Valley's climate, soils and history, make it totally unique in
California - and probably the entire new world. Bennett Valley is one of the
newest and smallest AVA's in the US. The cool, marine climate, combined with
volcanic soils, give the wines produced from Bennett Valley a unique
personality not found anywhere else.
For 3,000 years Bennett Valley was occupied by the Miwok
and Pomo Indian tribes. They lived and hunted in the area, collecting obsidian
from Bennett Peak and used it to make tools or to trade with other tribes.
As European settlers grew in number (and the Native
Americans were wiped out by European diseases) Bennett Valley became an
important agricultural center for Sonoma County, growing a wide variety of
crops- including wine grapes. it's hard to think of now of sleepy Bennett
Valley as a thriving area, but in 1850's even Jack London was drawn to the area
for its beauty - and its wine.
Isak de Turk was the most famous of many vineyard and
winery owners in Bennett Valley producing over 100,000 gallons of wine a year
in 1900. There were twice as many acres of grapes in production in Bennett
Valley in 1900 than there are now and at least 6 times as many wineries. Phyloxera
and prohibition ended grape production. Most of the farming moved away as
transportation improved to the point they could no longer compete with larger
farms. Farm crops were replaced by cattle in the 50's and 60's and today all
that is left of Bennett Valley vibrant past are the foundation of a winery, the
Grange Hall, the post office building and a few other odds and ends.
Eventually grapes returned to Bennett Valley in the
1970's when Dave Steiner planted his ranch on Sonoma Mountain. though the late
70's and ealry 80's several vineyards were planted and Matanzas Creek Winery
was established. There was a long lull in planting in until a mini-boom of
planting occurred in the late 1990's and early 2000's.
