Domaine Serene

One of the top estates in Oregon, Domaine Serene has earned a national reputation for incredible Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. Founded in 1989 by Grace and Ken Evenstad, is located at the top of the Dundee Hills, with absolutely stunning views of the valley. A visit to this gorgeous setting is sure to impress. Domaine Serene also has now built a spectacular neighboring building, their ‘Club House’ which is for wine club members. If you’ve never been tasting at Serene, there is never a better time to go. The new releases were simply stunning, coming from warm vintages, 2014 and 2015. 

Domaine Serene makes some of the best Chardonnay in Oregon, and their incredible 2015 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) follows in the extremely strong line of Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay wines. This release is vibrant, mineral driven and downright intoxicating. Just as good is the 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which shows incredible opulence and tension. Their 2014 Pinot Noir wines were just as scintillating. One of the best Pinot Noir wines that I have reviewed in the past year, the 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Monogram’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 96) is intense, earthy and has a stunning mouthfeel and poise. Learn more about Domaine Serene at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new wines from Domaine Serene.

2015 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2015 'Evenstad Reserve' Chardonnay by Domaine Serene saw 40% new French oak for 13 months prior to bottling. is another stunning release from Domaine Serene. This beautiful wine shows moderate oak on the nose with brioche toast, nectarine, Pazzaz apple and suggestions of heavy whipping cream. Balanced and poised, yet showing serious mid-palate weight, this seamless wine shows off a silky texture. Key lime creme brulee, challah bread, whipping cream and New York apple flavors impress. The near minute long finish ends with a crescendo. This is a masterful effort by Domaine Serene and their winemaking team. Enjoy this great wine over the next dozen years. Drink 2017-2028- 94

2015 Domaine Serene ‘Clos du Soleil Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2015 Domaine Serene 'Clos du Soleil Vineyard' Chardonnay is another awesome effort. The Chardonnay begins with baking spice, banana, creme brulee and whipping cream aromatics. Lemon zest flavors immediately drive the mid-palate combined with a silky texture and a lovely cream driven finish. You have to love the combination of range and fruit weight -- which seduce you. Smooth and seductive, this seriously good wine will drink well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Etoile Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Showing off a beautiful golden hue, the 2014 Domaine Serene 'Etoile Vineyard' Chardonnay impresses with its ripe fruit and silky mouthfeel. The wine opens with bright aromatics reminiscent of lemon zest, kumquat, whipping cream and nutmeg. The weight of this wine is downright seductive. Lemon creme brulee, Gravenstein apple pie and suggestions of nutmeg and cardamom flavors drive this full-throttle effort. The wine finishes long with heavy cream. Enjoy this gorgeous wine over the next decade.  Drink 2017-2027- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte Grand Cru’ Chardonnay- An epic wine, the 2014 Domaine Serene 'Récolté Grand Cru' Chardonnay shows tremendous weight and poise in this warm vintage. The wine needs more than an hour to unwind in the decanter. Once aroused, the wine settles into intense flavors remsiniscent of Meyer lemon zest, kumquat, creme brulee and nutmeg. The mouthfeel of this wine is exotic and unctuous. Marzipan, vanilla creme brulee, Pazzaz apple, and nutmeg flavors sit alongside some brisk minerality. Stunning, profound and every bit Oregon, this is a complete Chardonnay by Domaine Serene. While this will cellar marvelously for more than a decade, it is impossible to resist at this stage in its development. If enjoying young, be sure to give this massive Chardonnay at least an hour decant. Drink 2017-2030- 95

2015 Domaine Serene ‘Coer Blanc’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Domaine Serene 'Coer Blanc' is a white wine made from Pinot Noir grapes. Domaine Serene were the first winery in North America to make this downright awesome style of wine. Coming from a warm vintage in Oregon, this white Pinot Noir begins with aromas of lemongrass, Welches white grape juice, and Granny Smith apple. The smooth texture coats the mid-palate. Generous, and showing serious length, the flavors of white peach, Pink Lady apple and nutmeg with citrus blossom accents glide to the long, vanilla cream driven finish. This is another stunner by Serene. Drink 2017-2028- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- This is Domaine Serene’s entry level bottling which is as good as many winery’s reserve wines. The wine was sourced from the Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton AVA’s. This opens with a bouquet of pomegranate seed, blood orange, peat moss and suggestions of white pepper. This has a creamy texture and a wonderfully ripe mouthfeel with mouth-watering acidity. Red raspberry, red cherry and forest floor flavors with a touch of guava impress. While obviously manipulated, this is downright delicious Oregon Pinot. Drink 2017-2024- 91

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another standout wine made by this storied estate. The wine was aged for 18 months in 58% new French oak prior to bottling. Showing off a deep core, this wine opens with a bouquet of cran-pomegranate, red cherry preserves and forest floor. The creamy and rich texture is absolutely gorgeous. Generous and round, the wine shows off red cherry, pomegranate, guava puree and black tea flavors with peat moss. This finishes long with red fruits and cream. Enjoy this great wine over the next decade or so. Drink 2017-2030- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Pinot Noir- This great wine is sourced from a southern slope of the Evenstad estate. Showing a darker profile, and somewhat muted at first, the wine begins with aromas of black cherry, black tea, and earthy tones with black truffle and forest floor. Smooth and silky on the mouthfeel, this wine shows off cherry pie, Mandarin orange rind, guava and black tea flavors that sit alongside some sterling acidity. This finishes long with red fruits and cream. Enjoy this memorable wine over the next decade or more. If enjoying young, be sure to give this at least an hour decant to show its full flavor and aromatic range. Drink 2017-2030- 93

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 Domaine Serene 'Fleur de Lis Vineyard' Chardonnay is another sensational effort in this vintage. The Pinot Nori was aged for 15 months in 62% new French oak prior to being bottled. This great wine begins with bright aromatics of red raspberry preserves, baking spices and cran-pomegrate. The citrus elements to this wine are really classy. Smooth and silky on the mouth, the wine reveals bright flavors of tobacco leaf, red raspberry cordial and red cherry preserves with a touch of forest floor. The wine finishes long with cherry pie accents. This wine will show beautifully for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2029- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from a vineyard set on Willakenzie soils, the 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns’ Pinot Noir is a standout effort from the talented winemaking team here. This wine was aged for 18 months in 59% new French oak prior to bottling. Opening with a bouquet primarily of red fruits and wet earth, this wine shows off a beautifully silky texture and round mouthfeel. Flavors of red cherry candy, red raspberry, black truffle and suggestions of spicebox impress. The minerality and weight of this wine is fabulous. Drink 2017-2030- 93

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Winery Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 Domaine Serene 'Winery Hill Vineyard' Pinot Noir is sourced from a high elevation site in the Dundee Hills AVA. This outstanding wine begins with intense aromas of black truffle, forest floor and black cherry cough syrup. The weight and texture to this wine is irresistible. Black forest cake, white truffle and sage with peat moss flavors impress. Dense, round and generous, this awesome effort is best enjoyed in the next fifteen years. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this beauty at least a one hour decant. Drink 2017-2030- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir- The Domaine Serene 'Aspect' is another outstanding wine made from the esteemed 2014 vintage. Sourced from the Dundee Hills, the 'Aspect' Pinot Noir is made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the estate and showcases the East, South and West exposures of the Evenstad estate. The wine begins with aromas of black truffle, black tea, and black cherry compote. Simply delicious, this wine has an intense dark fruit flavor profile with earthy tones like black truffle and peat moss. Finishing long with dark fruits and vanilla, this is a downright scintillating effort by Serene. Gorgeous straight out of the gate, enjoy this great wine over the next decade or so.  Drink 2017-2030- 94

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Mark Bradford Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Mark Bradford Vineyard is a high elevation site located on the west facing slope of the Evenstad Estate. This great wine  was aged for 16 months in 69% new French oak prior to bottling. This opens with aromas of black tea, forest floor, black truffle and suggestions of black cherry compote. Rich and layered, this shows off a wonderful tension and mouthfeel. Ripe and polished, the black fruit flavors connect with forest floor, white truffle and wet earth elements. Silky smooth, be sure to give this great wine at least a two hour decant if enjoying in its nascency. Drink 2017-2033- 95

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from an east facing site on the Evenstad estate, this awesome wine was aged in French oak (59% new) for 15 months prior to bottling. Showing off a dense core, this great Pinot Noir begins with an aromatic profile of black truffle oil, forest floor, black cherry preserves and suggestions of wild blackberry pie. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is stunning, as is the combination of fruit weight and minerality.  Showcasing black fruits parading with forest floor and wet stone, this is a stunning wine that reveals great tension and poise from this warm vintage. A complete wine, this will bring drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2017-2033- 95

While not released yet, the 2013 Domaine Serene 'Monogram' Pinot Noir has a ton of potential. When I tried it, the wine was not yet quite as open as the intense and generous 2012 'Monogram' bottling. 

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Monogram’ Pinot Noir- This absolute majestic Pinot Noir from Domaine Serene utilizes 75% new oak (aged for 17 months) and was chosen from winemaker Erik Kramer's finest barrel selection. The wine opens with intense aromatics of red cherries and red raspberries woven together with herbs de Provence, black truffles and black pepper which all come together and make this simply irresistible. As the wine expands on the palate it leads to dense, beautifully concentrated flavors of red cherries, red raspberries, cran-pomegranate and cremini mushroom. The texture and mouthfeel of this wine borders ethereal leading to an long expressive finish. There is a seamless quality to this wine that showcases the fruit and balance of the 2012 vintage. Hats off to the Domaine Serene winemaking team for creating this incredible Pinot Noir, which is the finest that I have tasted from this amazing vintage. Drink 2016-2033- 96

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Grand Cheval’ Red Wine- This downright killer blend of Syrah and Pinot Noir is dedicated to the winery owner’s grandfather and his favorite horse. The 2014 ‘Grand Cheval’ is was aged in 65% new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. Both vintages were stellar in the Dundee Hills and in the Walla Walla Valley. Since this first was made a few years back I still have not tried a wine quite like this. Dense dark fruits hit you on the nose, as the wine shows a smoky edge with creosote and black tea, as well as pipe tobacco. The acidity to this wine is quite striking, as the wine showcases dark cherry, coffee grounds, black tea and pomegranate seed flavors. The weight and texture is gorgeous. This wine will cellar beautifully over the next fifteen years. Drink 2017-2033- 94