Domaine Serene Sparkling Wine
A great Oregon house doing great things, I was very honored to be the first wine critic to try their first sparkling wine more than a year ago. As the holiday season fast approaches, there is nothing more than adds to the occasion than great sparkling wine. Domaine Serene has made an international reputation by crafting beautiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines that continue to be some of the most compelling in North America. When I found out that they were essentially ‘all in’ on their sparkling wine project, my ears definitely perked up.
As a caveat, I will maintain that the sparkling wines made by Domaine Serene are for the cultured palate. I have come to understand that Ken and Grace Evenstad are lovers of Krug Champagne for its highly nuanced, impeccably balanced presentation. I’ll admit that I love Krug and even had a very special Krug tasting for my 40th birthday this year, trying the past three vintages of their ‘Grand Cuvee’ which they craft from many different vintages, capturing the art of blending.
The sparkling wines by Domaine Serene are a proprietary blend of vintages. Both their ‘Evenstad Reserve’ sparkling wines share a very limited dosage, while their ‘Demi-Sec’ wine serves as a wonderful foil to both ‘Evenstad’ wines. I took my time tasting through this lineup. Like many great sparkling wines, I think you will find that these show considerably better at a warmer temperature, as these three are particularly subtle. If shown cold the intricacies simply won’t evolve in the glass. Take your time when sampling these wines, as I did. Rather than share my scores, I invite you to glance through my notes. I think you will be really impressed with these classy new releases. Learn more at https://www.domaineserene.com Here are the beautiful new sparkling wines by Domaine Serene.
MV Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut MV 2’ Sparkling Wine- The MV ‘Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut’ sparkling wine is a stunning effort from this famed house. Inspired by the multi-vintage wines by Krug, the wine is crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes planted on high elevation sites. Disgorged in summer 2019, this shows off toasted hazelnut tones woven together with bright starfruit and Meyer lemon zest alongside wet earthy tones on the nose. The palate is fresh, vibrant and wonderfully astringent. Layers of Gravenstein apple and kumquat zest mingle with baking spices, and salted Macadamia nut tones on the palate. The silky mousse impresses here, as does the really gratifying length. Sit with this wine at a slightly warmer temperature and see it beautifully evolve. Truly outstanding and novel in the world of Oregon Sparkling Wine, the. ‘Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut MV 2’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 94
MV Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut Rose MV I’ Sparkling Wine- Showing off its beautiful salmon hue, the MV Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut Rose MV I’ Sparkling Wine is a seriously good effort that was disgorged in fall 2019. The wine was aged for 8 months in barrel, then 44 months in tirage and a further 8 months in the bottle. Nice flinty tones hit the nose with gooseberry, red raspberry and white rose water tones that all take shape in the glass. A wonderful freshness falls upon this wine, as the soft and round mousse entices. Cran-raspberry tones mingle with pomegranate seed, pink grapefruit, forest floor and Mandarin orange and flavors all mingle on the palate. The sense of mouthfeel is really good. Gratifying to enjoy in its youth, this beautiful and unique Oregon Rose sparkling wine, crafted for the sophisticated palate, has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2020-2033- 94
MV Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Vie MV 1’ Demi-Sec Sparkling Wine- Sourced from roughly 50% the Winery Hill Vineyard, the MV ‘Fleur de Vie’ is a slightly sweet sparkling wine made by the talented winemaking team. Once on the nose this shows off really good range from baking spices and salted brioche to lemon zest and candied ginger that all mingle in unison. The palate shows off a silky mousse. A kiss of sweetened orchard fruits combine with sourdough bread and dried apricots with shades of wild mushroom and peat moss on the palate. Complex and gratifying with its range, mouthfeel and length, the beautiful ‘Fleur de Vie MV 1’ sparkling wine will provide drinking enjoyment for more than a decade. Drink 2020-2033- 94