A superb Pinot Noir made from masters of their art, in a territory that they have helped establish as one of the best zones for Burgundian varietals outside, well, Burgundy.
This is outstanding wine that is in excellent, aged condition, already showing some of the forest floor, bramble notes that mature Pinot exhibits, while offering a bit of the swagger and charm of the New World warmth. This is a delicious wine that has even won-over non-Pinot fans... it's really that good!
With a bright nose of red fruits, cherries, and forest floor, the wine leads to a soft but generous palate, shoeing sweet spices and delicious, integrated oak. The palate is perfectly balanced with ripe fruit flavours, low levels of fine-grained tannins and a long and complex finish.
One can't help wonder at the reasons for Burgundy holding the pricing and market share when we open wines like these. This wine is so fine and elegant yet obviously approachable that the reaction I had to it and others from the excellent Drouhin estate, was to wonder why they had kept the prices as low as they are... However, it's still not exactly being thrown away, but it is at the lower end of the USA and fine Pinot bracket!
The Drouhin family have been farming vines in Oregon since the 1980s, roughly at the same time that they became fully organic in their vineyards in France. The search for vineyards was executed in the same manner in which they seek out vineyards in Burgundy - quality, availability and sustainability.
This wine is made from grapes that they grow in their Willamette valley vines and in each vintage 25% of this wine comes from the famed Rose Rock vineyard. We can't sell that wine, because there isn't enough shipped into the country... This is a premium prodcut made in a manner that is impossible to resist!
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Style: Svelte, Structured, Silky, Round, Profound, Medium Bodied, Elegant, Complex, Broad, Balanced
Best food matches: Steak, Soft Cheeses, Red Meats, Mature Cheeses, Lamb, Hard Cheeses, Fine Dining, Charcuterie
Alcohol: 13.5%
