One of the Northwest’s outstanding wineries, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, began in in the 1980s, founded by famed Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin. It was then that proprietor Robert Drouhin made the bold move to buy land in the Dundee Hills. What was previously only Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin family began planting their first vineyards in Oregon. Robert’s daughter, Véronique, has served as DDO winemaker for many years, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture. In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery. I had a great visit to the winery in August and am always blown away with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley. I’ve been lucky enough to have DDO bottlings back more than twenty years in my family’s personal collection.
The new wines are a total knockout from the 2022 vintage. This was one that was late-ripening and needed a lot of time to finish. Harvest was late but there were some world-class wines made this vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is up there with the finest editions of this wine that I have ever tasted. Learn more about this iconic Oregon winery at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin Oregon.
2023 Domaine Drouhin Rose- This bright and tart Rose offers a smooth texture with ripe red raspberry and strawberry notes on the palate with good freshness. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 91
2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- This vintage saw considerably lower yields from the frost damage. The 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a world-class wine that has poise and grace as well as richness to be a 20 year wine. Mango and lemon oil mark the nose alongside oyster shell on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with serious flavor density and a seamless drinking experience throughout. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 97
2022 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Maigold’ is a stunning wine that was aged in 50% French oak before bottling. Butterscotch and hazelnut notes combine with ripe pineapple and suggestions of sourdough bread on the plate. Rich and layered, this is a stunning wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 35’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Origine 35’ is a tribute to the 35th vintage at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. The idea behind this wine is a different expression than Laurene or their Dundee Hills bottling. The wine comes off deep and concentrated with a loaded core of black and red fruits alongside salty soils, wet rock, orange peel and suggestions of thyme. Fresh and deeply concentrated, with a refined mouthfeel, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2032- 95
2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine, the 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a knockout wine made from this vintage. On the nose this offers cigar ash alongside black cherry and black raspberry notes with blood orange zest accents. The palate is plush and refined with good weight and a lengthy finish. Generous now, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96
2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The world-class 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous edition of this wine that is already neatly evolved.
beautifully. The palate is dense, chewy and filled with power, with fantastic tension holding everything together. Seamless and seductive throughout the drinking experience with heady dark fruits, this is a monumental bottling that is amongst the finest you will taste in Oregon. Drink 2023-2043- 97
2021 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was stored for 15 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Bottled in February 2023 this comes off very elegant and silky on the palate, as this is driven by a gorgeous pure core of red and dark fruit flavors alongside red rose water, orange rind and suggestions of tobacco leaf. Drink 2023-2040- 95
2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- Dense, chewy and gorgeous, the very fleshy 2022 ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir is a generous and concatenated edition of this wine. On the nose this takes on beautiful red rose petals and tar with menthol and shades of red currants. The palate is rich and layered wit ha silky texture and refined tannins. Showing glorious length, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2044- 97