Donati Family Claret 2012
Donati Family Claret 2012 is a 13.8% ABV, 750mL red wine from Paicines, California — a Bordeaux-style blend of all five classic varieties: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, per K&L's producer-supplied record for the 2012, corroborated by WineMizer and Ken's Wine Guide. "Claret" is the old British word for Bordeaux-style reds, and this is the Donati family's signature wine from its Paicines estate in San Benito County. Wine Enthusiast scored the 2012 at 91 points and named it an Editors' Choice (November 2015). It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 13.8% (K&L producer-supplied 2012 record)
- Size: 750mL
- Vintage: 2012
- Blend: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
- Appellation: Paicines, Central Coast, California
- Score: 91 points, Editors' Choice — Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2015, for the 2012)
- Producer: Donati Family Vineyards, Paicines, CA
A Five-Variety Claret from Paicines
Ron Donati — son of a first-generation Italian-American family whose grandfather Albino made wine at home in South San Francisco — purchased the Paicines property in 1998 for his son Matt to farm; the family's first wines followed in 2003 and were hand-sold from 2005, with a tasting room opening in Templeton in 2007. The estate, sustainably farmed and centred on Bordeaux varieties, sits in the Paicines AVA, which the winery describes as the ninth-oldest AVA in California. The Claret — presented by the winery as its most popular wine — leads with Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Merlot, giving the 2012 a darker, more structured cast. Find the family on the Donati Family Vineyard vendor page or browse the red wine collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Boysenberry, violet, black pepper and sweet tar (Wine Enthusiast, 2012 review). Palate: Blackberry, purple florals, dark chocolate and espresso. Finish: Cherry and cola tones (winery's producer note).
How to Enjoy
Serve at cool room temperature with a short decant. A Cabernet-led Bordeaux blend pairs naturally with roast lamb, grilled steaks, mushroom dishes and aged hard cheeses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in the 2012 Donati Claret? All five Bordeaux varieties: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, per the producer-supplied 2012 record. The blend shifts materially by vintage, so other years differ.
Where is Paicines? An AVA in San Benito County, inland from Monterey on California's Central Coast — described by the winery as the ninth-oldest AVA in California.
Did the 2012 earn any scores? Yes — Wine Enthusiast gave the 2012 vintage 91 points and an Editors' Choice designation in November 2015.
A five-variety estate claret with a 91-point vintage behind it — pick up Donati Family Claret 2012 at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.