A few nights ago I decided to dip into my cellar and revisit the beautiful 2012 wines by Domaine Serene. 2012 has taken a long time to develop in the bottle. Moderate temperatures throughout the growing season led to balanced, tension-filled wines that needed a lot of time upon release. 2012 was a welcome departure to 2011 which was a really challenging, cool vintage in Oregon — one where flavor density was an issue.
Domaine Serene sits atop the Dundee Hills with expansive views of the Willamette Valley. The Mark Bradford Vineyard is a high-elevation site located on the west-facing slope of the Evenstad Estate. It was the first vineyard planted at Domaine Serene, named after Grace and Ken Evenstad’s son. The wine needed about 30 minutes of air to really get going. Right now this is a totally stunning wine that still has a long way to go in the cellar. I found this wine to be a welcome surprise as I had opened a 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Grace’ for my birthday two years ago and it was really tight, austere and really still needed time in the cellar. The 2012 ‘Mark Bradford’ is a bit more plush and ripe in terms of its current development. Don’t be afraid to uncork this beauty. Learn more at domaineserene.com and here is my review of the stunning 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Mark Bradford Vineyard’ Pinot Noir.
2012 Domaine Serene ‘Mark Bradford Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Named after Ken and Grace Evenstad’s son, the 2012 ‘Mark Bradford’ was the first site planted at Domaine Serene. The wine needs about 30 minutes of air to fully be aroused. Once it gets going there is a literal kaleidoscope of beautiful red fruits that greet you alongside Mandarin orange peel, menthol, rocky soils and suggestions of peat moss. A joy to consume now, this has at least another ten years in front of it. Drink 2024-2034- 97