An Oregon winery needing no introduction, Domaine Serene consistently produces some of the finest wines that you will find in the Willamette Valley. They have a new addition to their portfolio which they have brought back, Rockblock Cellars, which I fondly recall from the early to mid 2000s. The new wines by Rockblock focus on stony terroir from both Washington and Oregon. At the helm is winemaker Michael Fay who is former Goldeneye winemaker and has now been at Domaine Serene for many years. I’ve been tracking his illustrious career for more than a decade.
The new wines were really good across the board. Don’t miss out on the 2020 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 93) which is rich and shows nice nuance from this highly challenging vintage. Learn more at domaineserene.com and here are my reviews of the new Rockblock Cellars wines.
NV Domaine Serene ‘XV’ Rose- This is now the fifteenth edition of this Rose wine that comes from Pinot Noir vines. This is fragrant rose with red rose petals that combine with ripe guava and red raspberry notes on the nose. The palate is nicely textured, with a smooth mouthfeel and good underlying acidity. Delicious now, don’t serve too warm to indulge in the full range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2022 Rockblock Cellars ‘Washington State’ Sauvignon Blanc- Fresh and lithe, the 2022 Rockblock Cellars ‘Washington State’ Sauvignon Blanc shows a smooth mouthfeel upon entry. Layers of sweetened gooseberry and Japanese pear with green papaya all greet you on the palate, with plenty of stony minerals. Drink 2023-20280 91
2020 Rockblock Cellars ‘Oregon’ Viognier- Coming from this challenging vintage, this 2020 Viognier displays a very smooth texture on the mouth, with layers of melon, sourdough bread and minerals, laden with good weight on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2027- 91
2020 Rockblock Cellars ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Syrah- This 2020 Syrah comes from this site in the Walla Walla Valley that is set on windswept loess soils. The wine comes off smooth and savory with bright red raspberry and wild blackberry tones on the palate, showing good weight. Enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next five years. Drink 2023-2028- 92
2020 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2020 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this difficult vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. The underlying finesse is really nice here, as this is loaded with black fruits and tar notes alongside shades of garrigue on the palate. Really nice considering the vintage, enjoy this awesome new Syrah over the next five years. Drink 2023-2028- 93