I remember first visiting Domaine Serene in 2002. A lot has changed at the winery since then but consistency and overall quality of the wines have remained a signature feature of their brand. 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 love how these wines age as well. I have tasted many of these wines from my personal collection from 2012,2013 and 2014. These wines are aging brilliantly right now.
Before coming to Domaine Serene, I admired the wines that Michael Fay made at Goldeneye. Michael has done a great job with his 2019 white wines and red wines. Don’t miss out on the Domaine Serene ‘M.V.2’ Rose Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) which is one of the finest wines of its kind that you will taste in Oregon. A highly collectible wine, the 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) really needs a few more years of bottle age but you can feel the immense potential in this wine. Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new release wines by Domaine Serene.
2014 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- Quite simply a masterpiece in Oregon wine, the 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine may just be the finest 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine that I have tasted. Once on the nose this revels in its rich lemon rind dusted brioche tones alongside ripe pineapple and golden delicious apple. Seamless and soft throughout the drinking experience, this effortlessly glides, with a refined mousse and lovely, lengthy finish. Delicious and defined, and already nicely evolved, this is scintillating, deep and concentrated bubbles to enjoy right now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 96
Domaine Serene ‘M.V. 2 Rose’ Sparkling Wine- This is now the second time I have had the chance to taste the beautiful Domaine Serene ‘M.V. 2 Rose’ Sparkling Wine, which is mostly Pinot Noir (70%) with the remainder Chardonnay. Once on the attack the delicate bubbles entice, as this comes off refined with ripe strawberry, Yakima cherry and honeydew melon flavors with citrus blossom water and wet stone undercurrents. Gorgeous to enjoy now, consume this over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 95
Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Vie M.V. 2’ Sparkling Wine- The fantastic Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Vie M.V. 2’ Sparkling Wine is already drinking beautifully right now. Bright pear and sweet peach flavors combine with copious minerals and shades of salted macadamia nut on the palate. Refined, with a slight kiss of sweetness and plenty of mouth-watering acidity to back it up, this is gorgeous demi-sec style bubbles that will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay- The really good 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay comes from a southern and warmer portion of their estate vineyard. Highly enjoyable now, this offers shades of mango and cardamom on the nose with stony and salty undercurrents. The palate is ripe and viscous with serious tension that holds in place a deep core of melon and citrus rind tones, with hazelnut and peat moss undercurrents. Flinty and stony, with copious minerals, this is already nicely evolved Chardonnay that showcases the potential of this vintage. Drink 2022-2033- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Triple Crown’ Chardonnay- A phenomenal wine from this cooler vintage, the 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Triple Crown’ Chardonnay delivers ripe cantaloupe and roasted almond aromas alongside shades of gunpowder and wet stone. The palate is fresh and also very viscous with great concentration and finesse. Layers of toasty oak mingle well with kumquat dusted French bread and salty minerals. This finishes long with vanilla cream and baking spices, as the outstanding 2019 ‘Triple Crown’ Chardonnay is best savored over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Clos du Soleil’ Chardonnay- The polished 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Clos du Soleil’ Chardonnay is drinking very nicely right now at the three year mark. Taken from a slightly warmer part of the estate vineyard high atop the Dundee Hills, the wine leads with nutmeg infused French bread, with suggestions of roasted pineapple and banana on the nose. The palate is concentrated with plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Finishing long, this is gorgeous wine to consume over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Clos de Lune’ Chardonnay- A gorgeous and rather generous example of the vintage, the 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Clos de Lune’ Chardonnay comes off with saline drenched Granny Smith apple on the nose alongside lighter flinty and Macadamia nut undertones alongside suggestions of diatomaceous earth. The palate is viscous and mineral-driven with vanilla cream and baking spice dusted Challah bread flavors alongside shades of roasted pineapple. Give this an hour of air if consuming in its sultry youth. Drink 2022-2033- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Etoile’ Chardonnay- Set at 800 feet, the ’Etoile Vineyard’ is set on ancient volcanic soils. The 2o19 ‘Etoile’ offers The freshness and sense of finesse is downright awesome with volcanic soils that meld well with starfruit, Japanese pear and brandy soaked honeydew melon tones, with nutty accents. With an exceedingly long finish this is highly refined and delicious chardonnay that really needs about 30 minutes if consuming young. Drink 2022-2033- 95
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Recolte Grand Cru’ Chardonnay- One of the finest Chardonnays from Oregon that I have tasted in the past year, the scintillating 2018 ‘Recolte Grand Cru’ is a masterclass by the winemaking team at Domaine Serene. Rich and viscous on the mouth, the volcanic minerals come together seamlessly with Pink Lady apple, vanilla creme brûlée, ripe pineapple and mango tones that combine with a great sense of tension and salinity. Finishing exceedingly long, this is an incredible wine that needs at least an hour of air if enjoying in its vibrant youth. Drink 2023-2040- 96
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir-The 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir offers juicy citrus zest aromas as well as pomegranate seed and red rose petals that all mingle in unison. The mouthfeel is soft and generous with a soft texture and vibrant acid backbone. A light dusting of salinity falls over the core of plump red fruit flavors with stony minerals. Enjoy over the next six to eight years. Drink 2022-2028- 92
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Commanding your attention from this slightly cooler vintage, the gorgeous 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir was sourced from a host of estate vineyards. Strawberry and red raspberry coulis combine with a dusting of volcanic earth and forest floor tones on this fantastic bouquet. The palate is soft and round, with light tannins that frame a core of red fruits, with citrus rind, West African spices and pine needle undercurrents. Showing good weight and bright acidity, this is already beautiful evolved wine that will sure to satisfy over the next twelve plus years. Give this an hour of air if consuming now. Drink 2022-2034- 94
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Domine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ is a fanatic new single vineyard bottling that comes from a small site that is located in a southern facing slope. Translucent in the glass, this reveals toasty oak and teaberry aromas that meld with peat moss and a dusting of volcanic earth with freshly tilled soils. The palate is very fresh and refined with soft tannins that line a very pretty core of guava, strawberry and loganberry fruits alongside blood orange zest undertones. Soft tannins and a lengthy finish complete this outstanding new bottling that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2022-2036- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Abbey Oaks is the lone property that Domaine Serene owns in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Set on Willakenzie soils, this is an earlier ripening site for Pinot Noir. Right away the wine shows a great combination of red and dark fruits that mingle with salty damp earth and peat moss aromatics. The palate is soft and beautifully textured with great length and a very pretty set of red fruits (think guava, pomegranate and Bing cherry). Full-bodied and delicious, this is great stuff to enjoy its youth, as the 2018 ‘Abbey Oaks’ will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Gold Eagle Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘’Gold Eagle Vineyard’ is a dry farmed, six acre site set on ancient volcanic soils. This 2019 edition offers black truffle shavings, loamy soils and tobacco combine with a core of red currant and pomegranate seeds on the nose. The palate displays good weight and a soft mouthfeel with good viscosity considering the coolness of the vintage. Finishing long, this would pair with an unlimited range of foods when you consider the combination of red fruits, Asian spices, damp earthy notes and bright acidity. Enjoy this beauty over the next twelve years, Drink 2022-2034- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Triple S Vineyard’ is owned by Sue and Steve Schneider and is exclusively farmed by Domaine Serene. Once on the nose this takes on stony undercurrents that mingle well with liner torte, cigar box and saline drenched marionberry. The palate is soft and plush upon entry with layers of tart red fruits and pine needle tones alongside a strong volcanic earthy backbone and bright acidity. Juicy and delicious to consume nowise enjoy over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 94
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Winery Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Winery Hill Vineyard’ is a 20 acre site is planted to several clonal selections of Pinot Noir and is set on Jory soils. Once on the mouth this comes off veer soft and inviting with a smooth texture and vibrant acidity. Ripe boysenberry and back cherry connive with loamy soils and shades of pipe tobacco on the palate. Finishing long, this is already nicely evolved wine that will be sure to satisfy over the next twelve plus years. Give this an hour of air if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2035- 94
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Aspect’ is a stunning new wine by Domaine Serene winemaker Michael Fay. Very dark and brooding on the nose with rich wild blackberry and tar notes alongside volcanic soils that all entice. The palate is very fresh and soft, with a seamless drinking experience. Layered with a rich combination of red and dark fruits with truffle and forest floor notes, this is beautiful wine to consume over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037-95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Fleur de Lis Vineyard’ is a site set at slightly higher elevation in their estate vineyard and is a large part of their ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir. This really needs an hour of air to be fully expressive on the nose, as this slowly reveals potpourri aromas alongside tilled soils and boysenberry preserve tones that all dazzle in the glass. The palate is rich and concentrated with refined tannins that frame a core of rich red and dark fruit flavors with cigar ash and flinty accents. Be sure to give this a long decant if savoring in its vibrant youth. Drink 2022-2037- 95
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- I adore the new 2019 ‘Grace Vineyard’ which really needs a few more years of bottle age to fulfill its potential. Needing an hour of air to fully express itself, the 2019 ‘Grace’ reveals in its stony accents that line ripe cranberry and cola notes alongside shades of wild herbs and peat moss accents. The palate is refined and elegant on the mouth, revealing juicy acidity and copious red and dark fruit flavors that collide with the faint white truffle undertones. This will surely become considerably more earthy as it ages. Having just tasted the 20016 ‘Grace’ I know how long these wines can last thin the cellar as this is easily a 20 year wine. This might not be as big and bold as the 2018, but it shows slightly more nuance and I can assure you that it is every bit as good. Try to resist this beauty for another two years. Drink 2025-2042- 96
2019 Domaine Serene ‘Grand Cheval’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Grand Cheval’ is a one of a kind wine that was created by the late Ken Evenstad years ago in blending Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with Domaine Serene Estate Pinot Noir. This edition comes from cooler vintages both in Walla Walla and Oregon. It is very silky and soft upon entry with Black Forest Cake, exotic spices, and black currants that mingle with salty and silty soil undertones. The bright acidity and wonderful tannic structure as well as the weight suggests this will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95