Donati Merlot
Central Coast Merlot, 22 months in oak, poured in Commack.
The story behind Donati
Ron Donati bought land in Paicines, California in 1998 to grow grapes with his son Matt, and the family still farms limestone and decomposed granite above the cooling breezes of Monterey Bay. Winemaker Briana Heywood joined in 2016 and keeps the house style steady: Bordeaux varieties, patient oak, nothing rushed.
Donati Merlot spends roughly 22 months in French and American oak, often with a small splash of Cabernet Franc or Mourvèdre depending on the vintage. The winery and tasting room sit in Templeton, in the heart of Paso Robles. We have poured these bottles across our counter for years, and the oak has never run ahead of the fruit.
Explore the Donati range
Three Donati bottlings earn shelf space here: the Merlot we built this page around, the Claret blend, and an unoaked Chardonnay for the white drinkers in the house.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donati Merlot 750mL | Red, Merlot | 13.8% to 14.7% ABV | Dark plum, cedar, 22 months French and American oak |
| Donati Claret 750mL | Red, Bordeaux style blend | Not published | Cabernet and Merlot backbone, firm tannin, cassis |
| Donati Chardonnay 750mL | White, unoaked Chardonnay | Not published | Green apple, citrus, no barrel, clean finish |
| Donati Family Reserve Merlot | Red, estate reserve | Not published | Limited bottling, deeper oak, winery direct tier |
| Donati Ezio Cabernet Sauvignon | Red, Cabernet Sauvignon | Not published | Flagship bottling named for Ron's father |
| Donati Albino Bordeaux Blend | Red, Bordeaux style blend | Not published | Named for Ron's grandfather, structured and ageworthy |
Which Donati is right for you?
The Donati Merlot 750mL runs $22.98 on our shelf, which lands it squarely in the $17 to $28 tier the wine normally sells for. The Chardonnay is $14.98 and the Claret $19.98, so a mixed three bottle run stays reasonable. If you want to buy Donati Merlot online, order here and pick it up curbside in Commack at no charge. Local delivery is free over $250, and we run same-day or next-day routes across Nassau and Suffolk.
Enough oak and tannin for a grilled ribeye, still easy on a weeknight.
Bordeaux style structure at $19.98, built for lamb and hard cheese.
Unoaked and crisp, so it pleases a table that skipped the reds.