Domaine Serene
It was a surreal experience sitting across from superstar winemaker Michael Fay. Instead of tasting together in the same room, we were across from each other on our Instagram Live session, fondly recalling the last Domaine Serene gala that we attended. Such is like during Covid-19, where virtual tastings are an everyday occurrence. One of the outstanding and historic producers in the Willamette Valley, more than thirty years ago Domaine Serene was founded by Dundee Hills pioneers Grace and Ken Evenstad, One of the most beautiful wineries in the Pacific Northwest, Domaine Serene is an absolute must visit for any Oregon wine lover. I fondly recall my first visit to Domaine Serene in 2002 and was absolutely blown away not only with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley but the stunning wines. I continue tp write about this winery on a consistent basis because they have been nothing short of remarkable.
A man with a longstanding history making top class wines, I fondly recall many of the Goldeneye Pinot Noirs made by Michael Fay before he came to Domaine Serene a few years ago. Since he has taken command of this program, the wines are consistent world class. The new Domaine Serene wines are meant for any serious collector of Oregon wine. I absolutely adore the 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which is a silky textured wine that has incredible poise, depth and concentration.One of the best Oregon wines that I have sampled in the past year, the 2016 Domaine Serene ‘Mongram’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 96) is a heavyhitter that really needs a few years in the cellar to soften. Massive, with remarkable tension, this is a simply dazzling wine that will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new release wines by Domaine Serene.
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is another scintillating wine from the talented Michael Fay of Domaine Serene. Poached pear, lemon zest and shades of vanilla cream, as well as toasty brioche all make their way aromatically. The palate shows a silky texture and wonderful vein of salinity, as mouth-watering acidity and rich orchard fruits provide plenty of appeal. The length of this wine is really gorgeous, showing an exceedingly long, vanilla cream and mineral-laced finish. Despite the obvious challenges with the massive heat spikes that tormented this vintage, the 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ is a remarkable achievement that has tremendous freshness and verve as well as texture and opulence. Fantastic to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ will cellar well for at least another decade — but is really hard to resist right now. Drink 2020-2032- 95
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Clos du Soleil Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Clos du Soleil Vineyard’ is entirely planted to Dijon clone 76. Very pretty lemon blossom and honeysuckle tones brilliant combine with shades of Japanese pear, damp earth and wet stone on the nose. The palate is vibrant, lithe and shows great weight and texture. The seamless quality of the wine is hard to define but clearly adds to the drinking enjoyment as layers of Meyer lemon vanilla cream, Bosc pear and melon tones mingle with damp earth accents on the palate. With great length and tension, this beautiful wine will have a long life ahead of it. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least an hour of air. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Clos de Lune’ Chardonnay- Set at roughly 850-940 feet, the ‘Clos de Lune Vineyard’ is planted to Dijon clones on Jory soils. Salted Macadamia nut and nectarine tones combine with suggestions of lemon zest infused sourdough bread on this evocative nose. The palate shows great depth and concentration with bright acidity and length. Layers of Meyer lemon cream combine with the wonderful tension to produce a mouth-watering effect. The weight also surprises, giving you almost an unctuous mouthfeel. The exceedingly long finish provides the ample crescendo to this glorious new release. While remarkable to enjoy in this youthful stage, the 2018 ‘Clos de Lune’ Chardonnay will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Triple Crown Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Triple Crown Vineyard’ was a way of commemorating Domaine Serene’s third estate vineyard, set on Jory soils and located high atop the Dundee Hills. Planted in 2014, this Dijon clone Chardonnay shows bright lemon zest with sourdough bread and suggestions of nutmeg and cloves that mingle in the glass. The palate has great freshness and texture with layers of orchard fruits that combine with lighter citrus zest, cantaloupe and Challah bread flavors. Fantastic to enjoy right now, the 2018 ‘Triple Crown Vineyard’ Chardonnay will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 94
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte Grand Cru’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Recolte Grand Cru’ Chardonnay is an utterly sensational new wine by the talented Michael Fay and the winemaking team at Domaine Serene. Once on the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak, kumquat zest and shades of salted Marcona almond, woven together with flinty undertones on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is beautifully textured, showing impeccable length and texture. The Chardonnay comes off weightless as this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The thrilling combination of weight, tension and length makes this truly one of the great Chardonnays made in Oregon. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a one hour decant, as the 2017 ‘Recolte Grand Cru' Chardonnay will cellar well for many decades to come. Drink 2020-2038- 96
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Coeur Blanc’ White Pinot Noir- More than a decade ago Domaine Serene sought to make one of the first White Pinot Noir bottlings in North America. Following harvest, at the press grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed, limiting contact with the grape skins. Once in the glass, the lightest pink hue marks this wine that shows layers of salted cashew, honeydew melon and suggestions of baking spices on the nose. The palate is sinfully good, showing a downright awesome sense of texture and weight — yet appearing weightless. Layers of Pazzaz apple, ripe nectarine and starfruit combine with nutmeg infused buttered brioche bread. The length and balance of the wine is simply magical. Great to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Coeur Blanc’ will enjoy a very long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ is another gorgeous effort by Domaine Serene. Forward and juicy, the wine delivers bright guava and red cherry candy alongside shades of blood orange zest and pomegranate seed, with flinty undertones. This shows beautiful texture, weight and length. For an entry level Oregon Pinot Noir, this is a seriously good effort that will be best enjoyed over the next seven years. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ is a small parcel set at just over 700 feet, located on the Evenstad Estate. This wine is entirely Dijon clone 667 Pinot Noir which was planted with eastern aspect. The bouquet is intoxicating as this slowly unveils layers of sour red fruits with shades of black truffle and peat moss tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is highly elegant, with a silky mouthfeel and remarkable length. Once on the attack, the wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering copious red fruits with shades of baking spices, Mandarin orange zest and damp earthy tones. Wonderfully balanced, the 2017 ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will enjoy another fifteen to twenty years ahead of it, picking up more wild mushroom and earthy tones as it gracefully ages. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a one hour decant. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and is a lower elevation site set on marine sedimentary soils. The salty terroir really entices on the nose, with bright cranberry and orange rind tones that meld with shades of damp earth aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate is wonderfully fresh, with great texture and length. Layers of bright red fruits dance with kumquat zest, cinnamon and clove tones, with the salty terroir adding to the drinking enjoyment. Medium to full-bodied, with a great sense of mouthfeel, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Winery Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 Domaine Serene ‘Winery Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a great effort from this 20 acre parcel set at 775-935 feet high atop the Dundee Hills. The lovely volcanic earth tones really impress, as layers of pomegranate seed and orange rind are woven together with damp earth and peat moss aromatics that all dance in unison in the glass. The palate shows a great degree of tension and texture, with an exceedingly long finish. The combination of bright red fruits, citrus rind and damp earthy flavors all really work here, as this generous and wonderfully astringent effort will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2036- 94
2017 Domaine Serene ‘Grand Cheval’ Red Wine- The ‘Grand Cheval’ is a one of a kind wine that was a brilliant idea by Ken Evenstad to combine Dundee Hills Pinot Noir with Walla Walla Valley Syrah. Spicy tones from the Syrah immediately catch your eye and connect with the core of huckleberry, smoke and red raspberry that all mingle together. The palate is plush, showing a soft texture and wonderfully bright acidity that races through the core of black and red fruits. With smoky and earthy accents, this beautiful wine is absolutely fantastic to enjoy right now and will provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen years or more to come. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2016 Domaine Serene ‘Monogram’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Monogram’ is a stunning new Oregon Pinot Noir that is up there with the best of its kind. A barrel selection of the choicest Pinot Noir lots for Domaine Serene, this opens with wonderfully flinty terroir with bright orange rind and pomegranate seed, alongside shades of sour kirsch on this evocative bouquet. The palate is wonderfully seamless, as this has incredible length and texture. Bright Mandarin orange zest, cran-pomegranate, red cherry candy and damp earth terroir all sing in unison on the palate. This is quite simply a complete Pinot Noir that has it all. Wonderful to savor in its youth, give this at least a one hour decant if enjoying over the next several years. Drink 2022-2040- 96