The Donelans produce several Chardonnays. The 2014 Chardonnay Nancie sees about 20% new oak. It was aged 10 months prior to bottling and is a three-vineyard blend, two on Sonoma Mountain and one on the lower ground of the Russian River Valley. Terrific fruit intensity as well as vibrant honeysuckle, white peach and lemon blossom notes jump from the glass, and once the wine hits the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, spicy, pure, and refreshing. This is intense in flavor, but remarkably etheral in personality. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

The 2014 Chardonnay Nancie is also straight up gorgeous. Brought up in puncheons and concrete eggs, it offers classic Chardonnay notes of white flowers, honeysuckle, white peach and toasted nuts. It's more supple and rounded than the Genevieve's Block Chardonnay, has a deep, rich texture and a great finish. It's pure class all the way and should evolve gracefully.

The 2014 Chardonnay Nancie is super-expressive. Smoke, slate, apricot pit and chamomile are some of the signatures that open up in the glass. Like all of the Donelan wines, the Nancie is a wine of restraint. The blend of sites results in a complex Chardonnay built on nuance and understatement.