A recent tour of Mendocino & Anderson Valley (more about that to come) ended with an overnight at C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg.

Founded in 2006 and lodged in a beautifully redone winery that used to house Belvedere (indeed, Bill and Sally Hambrecht are partners in the new winery), C. Donatiello specializes in Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. According to Christopher Donatiello, the style that he and winemaker Webster Marquez (formerly of Williams Selyem) are going for is “lighter, more elegant Pinot Noir, and bigger, masculine Chardonnay.”

The grounds of the winery are lovely and well worth a visit in themselves if you’re ever in the area. And these are interesting wines that I suspect will continue to improve — both by vintage and in the bottle. I thought the Pinots offered some appealing earthy accents, and particularly liked the structure of some of the Chardonnays. Here are my notes:

C. Donatiello 2008 Chardonnay Russian River Valley 809 Clone Vineyard ($32). Spicy apple aromas and flavors are accented with mineral notes and pick up peach and citrus through the long, rich finish. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2006 Chardonnay Russian River Valley ($24). Full-bodied apple, pear and citrus fruit are supported by a generous amount of oak influence, with a rich, creamy finish. A more straightforward style than the other Chardonnays. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2007 Chardonnay Russian River Valley Orsi Vineyard ($38). Intensely aromatic spice and citrus notes accent concentrated apple and white peach fruit, with a silky, creamy finish floating over an impressive structure. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2007 Chardonnay Russian River Valley Maddie’s Vineyard ($34). Ripe pear, tropical citrus and baking spice notes mingle in this lively, full-bodied, pretty wine. With a swath of creme brulee through the long, silky finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2006 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley ($41). Silky. aromatic raspberry and cherry fruit character is laced with smoke and licorice, finishing bright and fruity. Nice concentration throughout. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2007 Pinot Noir Maddie’s Vineyard ($62). A big, rich, velvety, spicy Pinot that doesn’t quite leave behind elegance, with deep black fruit laced with chocolate, spicy black pepper, leather and briar notes that mingle on the rich finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

C. Donatiello 2007 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Floodgate Vineyard Block 15 ($55). Silky and concentrated, with an array of berry aromas and flavors, as well as cola, spicy bittersweet chocolate and dried herbal notes on the full finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

(Photos from C. Donatiello Winery’s Facebook page!)