Wine X Art

In August, this column wrote about the earlier visit to a Sonoma winery producing excellent Pinot Noirs while at the same time putting on display the wonderful sculpture collection of its owner. We can tell you now that is the Donum Estate. And it is our privilege to be recently appointed their sole representative in Hong Kong.

Donum was founded in 2001. With progressive investments particularly since the current ownership from 2011, the estate has grown and been making better and better wines. Their vision is to allow the land taking the lead, to treat it with respect and studying its patterns and characters. Their wines are all out of Chardonnay (for white) and Pinot Noir (for red). Each wine, with tiny production of a few hundred cases each year, comes from a single vineyard and is a distinctive expression of its terroir combining the ripe fruit of California with the savory and elegant expression typical of a Burgundy.

Other than wine, Donum put on display harmoniously with the landscape an ever-increasing collection (now at about 40) of large-scale, open-air sculptures. Many pieces were curated as a collaboration between Donum’s owner and the artists, including works of Louise Bourgeois, Subodh Gupta, Keith Haring, Richard Hudson, Tracey Emin, Yeu Minjun, Yayoi Kusama and more. The art display enhances the beauty of the estate from where the vines grow, with the wines produced reflecting all the spirits therein.

When the pandemic is over, you should try to visit Donum where wine and art cross-over so enlighteningly. It would be an experience of a lifetime. For now, you can visit their website www.thedonumestate.com to have a glimpse of what it’s like.

As a start, we are offering 4 Donum wines:

2016 Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir (JS95) at $680/bottle – Big and bright but never overwhelming, this is a luscious wine with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cranberry preserve and kirsch, with accompanying notes of toasted pine nut and dried leaves.

2016 Anderson Valley Estate Pinot Noir (JS96) at $680/bottle – Aromas of redwood, pine and lavender, with cranberry, raspberry, plum and cherry joining to give an intensive nose. The palate is of focused red fruit flavours, hemmed by fine-grained tannins and freshness that carries through a long finish.

2016 West Slope Reserve Pinot Noir (JS95) at $1,000/bottle – Hedonistic wine with intense aromas of cherry, blueberry, kirsch, vanilla and a hint of tobacco. The palate is juicy and with exuberant black fruits and pomegranate, offering a remarkably long finish.

2017 Russian River Valley Estate Chardonnay (JS95) at $580/bottle – Pale gold in colour, this is an intense and rich wine with an exotic nose of kiwi, anise and linseed. The structure is well balanced and the palate offering flavours of juicy apple, lemon, brioche and caramel.

All are priced at the same level as listed in the US. In that sense, you will save the logistic cost of bringing them here.

We would also encourage you to browse our website www.vinopolis.com.hk to view our full wine list. Purchases can be made through this online platform, by sending us an e-mail or just WhatsApp to 9195-7383. Thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving...enjoy your wine but drink responsibly.