Domaine Drouhin Oregon

Articles About Domaine Drouhin Oregon

Reviewed Wines

2009 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Rosé

14.1% alc., 450 cases, $20. The second time a rosé has been released at DDO. · Coral color in the glass. Bright peach and strawberry flavors with a crisp and refreshing finish. Will work beautifully with grilled salmon. Good. Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc.. Unreleased. · Red in color in the glass. Oak supersedes the fruit aromas now with prominent coffee and toffee scents. Elegant and refined flavors of red berries and cherries with a touch of spice and sandalwood. Still young and tight but has the goods. Very good. Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay

14% alc., $30. 100% estate fruit. Vinified 50% in stainless steel and 50% in barrel. · Pleasing aromas of white stone fruits, citrus and wet rocks. Demure flavors of white peaches and creme bruleé with no oak imprint and a bright, pure fruit finish. Always one of my favorite Oregon Chardonnays. Very good. Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $40. 100% de-stemmed, vinified at the four-level gravity flow winery. Aged in approximately 20% new French oak barrels which are custom made in Burgundy. 95% estate fruit. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy dark red cherry and berry aromas with hints of spice and oak. Crisp and juicy dark red cherry and raspberry melange with an underpinning of savory herbs and spices. Lacking in nuances but drinking nicely. An impressive effort from a challenging Oregon vintage. This is a winery you can rely on for consistency. Very good Reviewed June 22, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $40. · Bright berry perfume including blueberries. Moderately rich dark red fruits wrapped in soft tannins and brought to life with bright acidity. Like many Oregon 2007 Pinots, this one is drinking beautifully now and has the impeccable balance to age. Very good (+). Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $45. · The aromas draw you in with an enticing perfume of red strawberries and cherries, spice, red hots and the slightest hint of oak. Impressive richness for a 2007 vintage Oregon Pinot Noir but still discreetly concentrated. Highly nuanced flavor profile with the focus on red cherry and berry fruit accented by citrus, herbal, mineral and earth notes. The fruit is still a bit reticent showing increasing leg with time in the glass. Soft in the mouth with dusty tannins, a lively spark of acidity and a dry finish. Impeccable balance and impressive vibrancy. This is a dependable wine that is consistently fine with a track record of age ability, regardless of the vagaries of vintage. Reviewed November 29, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Domaine Drouhin Laurène Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., $65. · Much more showy than the 2006 vintage withi intense aromas of black cherries, cut flowers and lavender. The delicious dark red and plumy fruit attacks the mid palate with a vengeance, persisting lavishly on the pleasing finish. Has the tannic backbone and balancing acidity to easily go 12 years. Very good (++). Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2006 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $39. · An immensely satisfying and highcollared red cherry and berry melange, smoothly textured and displaying a welcome mineral and aciddriven liveliness and refined tannins. I have found several tasters who prefer more intense and hedonistic fruit to be disappointed in this wine but I find it remarkably pinotypical. Reviewed December 17, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $39. Hand-picked, hand-sorted and de-stemmed at the four-level gravity flow winery. Fermentations are lengthy. Aged in approximately 20% new French oak barrels custom made for DDO in Burgundy. · Really lovely perfume of ripe strawberries, raspberries, candied apple and a hint of warm cookies and baking spice. Heavenly nose. Rich on the palate without being cloying. Hi-toned red fruits are featured with a gentle accent of oak, cigar box, graham and toll house cookies. Good structural bones for aging with some tannins to shed. Very softly textured and an appealing gentleness that exemplifies Pinot delicacy. Reviewed August 17, 2009 ARTICLE »

2006 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $45. · Bright and fresh sporting red berry and red cherry fruit with a razor sharp finish. Like a frisky, young pony. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $45. · This wine is as different from the 2005 version as night and day. Scents of bright red cherries and strawberries, a veritable “farmer’s market” of summer fruit. Vigorous and open with plenty of raspberry, Chinese 5 spice and subtle oak char flavor. Still young and a tad tight, but it would be hard to keep your hands off this one now. A flat-out beautiful wine. (The 2005 DDO Laurene has just been released). Reviewed September 15, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Domaine Drouhin Laurène Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $65. · Hi-tone aromas of cherries, garden herbs, dried rose petals and seasoned oak. A bit austere and tight offering more aromatics than flavors. There are plenty of red fruits undercover. Very good (-). Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2005 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $45. · The aromatics are redolent of a fresh cherry pie. In the mouth the cherry attack continues and the whole package is beautifully balanced. A bit angular due to its youth, but offering an enticing glimpse of what is to come. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2005 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $45. This winery represents the first Burgundian presence in Oregon, begun in 1987 by Maison Joseph Drouhin. The 225 acre estate in the Dundee Hills is under the leadership of fourth generation winemaker, Veronique Drouhin-Boss. · Caution: this wine takes at least 30 minutes to come together after popping the cork, but even then it is a tight and stubborn wine that needs more time. Plenty of herbs, hay, and marzipan on the nose. Tart cherry compote which reluctantly reveals its charms accentuated by earth, herbs and oak. Silky and seamless. Like the Dark Knight, suave but sinister. Reviewed September 15, 2008 ARTICLE »

2005 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $45. · Fruit plays a minor role in the nose which shows noticeable oak, earthiness, and mineral- imbibed red cherries.. Demure red fruits are simple with plentiful oak, a strong tannic backbone, soft mouth feel and an acid kick on the backend. Not yet up to the high level of the 2004 vintage of this wine. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »

2004 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Back on track with this vintage. A lovely and complex Pinot Noir showing an enticing herbal theme that runs through DDO wines. Grand in every way. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Salud Cuvee

The Salud cuvee. Very pretty nose featuring demure red fruits. Tangy cherry and cranberry flavors with a dry and lively finish. Very refreshing to drink and quite nice. Tasted November 7, 2008. Reviewed

2004 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Array of pleasing aromas including cut flowers, Provencal herbs and strawberries. Juicy core of red berries and cherries with savory herbal notes leading to a dry finish. Still has plenty of life ahead. Very good. Reviewed August 24, 2010 ARTICLE »

2004 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $45. This French-owned winery is one of the most visible and consistently fine producers of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. Veronique Drouhin has crafted the wines here in every vintage since the beginning in 1988. She calls the 2004 vintage, released in January, 2007, “the quintessential Pinot Noir.” · This wine is still very young and closed and needs some air time if you want to drink it now. It is marked by great purity and finesse over fruit heaviness, both hallmarks of Domaine Drouhin. The nose is redolent of red fruits including strawberries. A silky body of fruit (think dry cherries) is uplifted by bright acidity. There are still some notable tannins on the finish that will resolve with cellaring. Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noirs are very age worthy so keep a few bottles in your cellar for down the road. Reviewed February 12, 2007 ARTICLE »

2004 Domaine Drouhin Laurène Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $65. This wine is made from the finest lots of grapes from Drouhin’s 225-acre estate. It is named after Veronique Drouhin’s oldest daughter. The first vintage was 1992. · Not offering a lot on the nose yet with shy black cherry and wood spice. Solid mélange of black stone fruits with fine-grain tannins. Plenty of French sensibility and the structure to develop nicely over the coming years. Terrific potential that will reward patience. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »

2003 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · A warm vintage in Oregon creating a wine of significant color and extraction but more simple and singularly fruit-driven. You make what the vintage gives you, but this wine is atypical for the DDO style. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2003 Domaine Drounin Cuvée Louise Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Very big in structure and ripe in style. Copious amounts of rich, plush red and dark fruits. Reflective of the very hot vintage. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2002 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · The string of excellent vintages continues and this beauty is right in step. Certainly drinkable now, but has many more years ahead. Tasty berry and cherry fruit blended together creating a broad presence on the palate. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2001 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Deep aromas of crushed berries and wild herbs. More density and cherry fruit than the previous vintage, highlighted by musk, earth and spice. An outstanding wine that warrants a special occasion. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2001 Domaine Drouhin Cuvée Laurène Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Similar to the Classique of this vintage, but ramped up a notch. Seems awkward at this stage with an unusual medicinal note dampening my enthusiasm for it. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2000 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · Fine but not spectacular. Attractive, but demure herbal-toned Pinot fruits, soft tannins, and a clean finish. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

2000 Domaine Drouhin Cuvée Laurène Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · A robust wine that is gentle and perfumed, yet sweet and dense on the palate, exhibiting more density and dark fruits than the Classique wine of the same vintage. The core of gentle tannins is wrapped in layers of fruit. A Pinot Noir love letter. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1999 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · I wrote “great” and that pretty much says it all. Redolent of ripe cherries, cassis, musk and hay, with a silky and plush mouth feel. Perfectly harmonious, this wine is poetic. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1999 Domaine Drouhin Cuvée Louise Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. First year for this wine, only 75 cases. · A magnificent combination of power and finesse. Wilted roses and ripe red cherries in the nose, Great expression of Pinot fruit on the palate. Immensely satisfying and probably net yet at its nadir. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1998 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · Deep in color and showing rich, ripe red fruit flavors with herbal accents. Nicely balanced and perfectly fine now. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1997 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · The lightest wine in the lineup. Very shallow fruit, simple and linear with racy acidity on the finish. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1996 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · A very delicate Pinot Noir that is fading and out of balance, with brisk acidity to the forefront. Still a respectable drink with food. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1995 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.5% alc.. · The 1995 through 1997 vintages were difficult ones in Oregon. The 1995 remains the best of the trio in my mind. There is still plenty of fruit here with secondary notes of leather, mushroom, barnyard, and cedar showing up. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1994 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.5% alc.. · More showy with lush, velvety Pinot fruit. The aromatics are quite enticing featuring cherries, green tea and floral accents. No oak to be found. Quite impressive and would attract California Pinot Noir lovers in heat. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1993 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.0% alc.. · From a particularly good vintage and one of Veronique’s favorites for its good acidity. Complex nose of herbs and musk leading to tart red fruit flavors. Zippy acidity on the finish produces a refreshing conclusion. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »

1992 Domaine Drouhin Classique Pinot Noir

13.5% alc.. · Still flaunting admirable color and freshness, this beautiful wine was soft and smooth, showing attractive hay and cookie dough aromas and elegant spice-kissed cherry flavors. A ringer for a well-aged Cote de Beaune wine. Reviewed May 26, 2008 ARTICLE »