Donum 2022 Vintage Available Now!!

Vinopolis launched the latest 2022 vintage of Donum two weeks ago. Donum CEO Angelica de Vere-Mabray and winemaker Dan Fishman flew over from the US. Together with owner Allan and Mei Warburg, a series of events including wine lunch, dinner and tasting took place at the Gloucester Art Club, the HK Golf Club, the HK Country Club and the American Club during which wines from the 2002 vintage were prominently featured. Wrapping up was a drink party hosted by Allan and Mei for their friends from the art world as Art Basel kicked off during the week of March 24.

With the winter drought, the year 2022 had an early budbreak. The warm summer had the grapes maturing faster, resulting in the Estate’s earliest harvest ever. The Labour Day (first Monday of September for the US) heat wave of some 38 degree Celsius lasted for 6 days, leading to over-ripe fruits for many vineyards. As we decided to pick early, Donum was spared from the not so ideal effects of the heat. Our 2022 wines are lighter in style, with elegant fruit and firm structure, meaning while accessible when young, they will also age beautifully. We are sharing with you below the tasting notes of a few of our Donum 2022 offering. Adding to the list are some of the more recent arrivals and see if any of those might interest you.

2022 Donum Russian River Valley Chardonnay (JS95 at HK$620/bottle) – Light to medium straw in colour, this wine opens with aromas of apple and lemon and slowly develops notes of caramel and hazelnut during aeration. The palate reveals notes of white peach, green apple, white pepper and a touch of wet river stone for an intense, complex finish.

2022 Donum Carneros Estate Pinot Noir (JS94 at HK$750/bottle) – With grapes out of the Estate’s biggest vineyard, this can be regarded as the signature wine of Donum. Light to medium ruby in colour, it offers expressive aromas of mulberry, blackberry and graphite. The palate is rich yet well-balanced, featuring notes of raspberry, currant, sea salt, porcini mushroom and sassafras, with firm tannins for a structured finish.

2022 Donum Three Hills Pinot Noir (JS96 at HK$750/bottle) – This cuvee would appeal those who prefer wines of elegance more than intensity. Deep ruby in color, the wine is accompanied by enticing aromas of dusty rose, cranberry, strawberry and a touch of white pepper. The palate unfolds with layers of juicy berry, cranberry and apple, enhanced by subtle notes of floral and baking spice. The finish is structured and vibrant, with great natural acidity and minerality.

2022 Donum Ten Oaks Reserve Pinot Noir (JS97 at HK$950/bottle) – Garnet in colour with a slight ruby hue, the 2022 Ten Oaks offers aromas of strawberry and apple, joined by pomegranate and herbal tea. The palate presents cherry and berry, with notes of ginger and leather generating unique complexities. Firm tannin provides structure, allowing the wine to age gracefully. Less than 3,000 bottles produced.

2019 Pichler-Krutzler Gruner Veltliner Kellerberg (JS96 at HK$450/bottle) – From Austria, this white is deep, intense and flinty on the concentrated nose, with crunchy, crystalline notes. Lush and dense on the textured palate, with fine, mineral acidity structuring the mighty body, this is a rich Kellerberg with a compact finish.

2020 Jean-Michel Gaunoux Meursault 1er Cru les Perrieres (VN94-96 at HK$1,000/bottle) – This Burgundy white offers a precise and focused bouquet of crushed stones filtered through the citrus fruit, very vivacious, though at the same time understated. The palate is beautifully poised, with ample concentration, very fine acidity and neatly integrated oak.

2016 d'Armailhac (JS95 at HK$480/bottle) – With the same ownership as Mouton Rothschild, this Bordeaux red offers extremely good value as it opens with gregarious crème de cassis, blackberry pie and mulberries scents with hints of chocolate box, roses and charcoal with a waft of dried sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and earthy.

2018 Saint Pierre (WA95 at HK$480/bottle) – A Bordeaux red composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, its bursts from the glass with a glorious perfume of kirsch, blackcurrant pastilles, black raspberries and cedar chest with hints of red roses, pencil shavings and spice box. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with velvety tannins and beautifully knit freshness, supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing long and perfumed.

2006 L'Eglise-Clinet (RP96 at HK$1,200/bottle) – This beautiful Bordeaux red has a killer bouquet: intense black and red fruit, crushed rose petals and dried herbs. It possesses one of the classiest aromatics in the Pomerol appellation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, dense dark berry fruit laced with black tea, dried herbs and a touch of juniper, gently building towards a lightly spiced, dense finish with impressive substance.

2022 Fürst Spätburgunder Bürgstadter Berg Erste Lage (JS95 at HK$480/bottle) – A German Pinot that is deep, elegant on the finely concentrated and fruity nose that shows aromas of ripe cherries, blackcurrant and nuances of woodruff combined with crunchy salts and ripe, finely grained tannins. As it is conquering your palate, you feel purity, freshness and salinity, all delicately woven to yield a finish that is long, tensioned but never too big.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to go to our website www.vinopolis.com.hk to browse the full wine list. Purchases can be made through the website or by sending us an e-mail or simply WhatsApp 9195-7383.