TASTING NOTE: Lot #14. Barrel Sample: All this wine makes you want to do is jump in a golf cart with Cush Donelan and winemaker David Milner, and ride around the golf course smokin’ cigar and sipping whiskey. And then, you get to the clubhouse and you get serious with this Cabernet blend, which is the first varietal bottling off their estate Obsidian Vineyard since the replant. This is striking—powerful and elegant, the classic iron fist in a velvet glove. Dark rose petal aromatics mingle with sagebrush and forest underbrush. Super expressive and refined, with driving energy and remarkable poise. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “The Dark Knights” pays tribute to the two inky grape varietals in this first-ever blend for Donelan Family Wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2023 vintage is the Donelan Estate’s debut wine after replanting the vineyard. Great things are expected from these young vines that were propagated from the previous vineyard plantings, which date back to the late 1970s. Knights Valley in Sonoma County is one of the most rugged, untamed, and breathtaking wine regions in California. Nestled between the Mayacamas Mountains, it has volcanic soils, high elevations, and a cooler climate, all of which create powerful yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The valley was named after Thomas Knight, a 19th century pioneer, which gives it a sense of history and adventure. Winemaker David Milner ferments these small lots separately and ages each one differently, revealing spectacular wines that are filled with depth, elegance and power. “The Dark Knights” will be brawny, rich and decadent, like many great Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The Cabernet Franc will tame the big mountain structure and give it lift with aromatic herbs, white flowers and sage. It will have a fresh, beautifully saturated palate and fine-grained tannin. WINEMAKER(S): David Milner ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: June 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: December 2025 National Distribution: AL, CA, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, MD, MA, MS, NV, NC, OH, TN, TX, UT, VA, WY, Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Canada, Japan; please inquire for additional countries.