Oregon tasting notes

text and photographs © 2009 Tom Cannavan

These notes accompany our in-depth feature on Oregon wine.

DOMAINE DROUHIN, OREGON

Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2006
From the family estate, this wine was barrel fermented and aged at one time. Now 60% in tank, 40% barrel ferment, all in neutral oak. Lovely oak quality, with fine, nutty and light vanilla tone to crisp, well-defined, clear apple fruit. The palate has real power, with fantastic depth and has a nice line of acidity running through. 90/100

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2005
95% estate fruit. Lovely smoky, charry ground coffee and espresso background to quite plush cherry fruit. The palate has a beautifully silky texture, with very nice fruit that is rounded and sweet, filling the mid-palate before very refined, suede-like tannins and nicely integrated but persistent acidity pushes through the finish. Lovely stuff. 91/100

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2006
Slightly closed at present, but the fruit is very solid and ripe, dominating the oak at this stage, which sits in the background. The palate is bigger than the 2005, both in terms of fruit density and tannic structure. But this has good balance, the fruit retaining a fresh, ripe character, and the grippier tannins adding a little plum-skin grip. Warm and expansive in the finish, this is a very mouth-filling and lush wine. Tough maybe it lacks a touch of the 2005's precision, it has power and substance. 91/100

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Cuvée Laurène 2004
Current vintage, of this barrel-selection, which is vinified exactly as the Pinot, but sepnds 18 month sin bottle before release. Lovely earthy tones, with a touches of tobacco and some herbal notes. Palate has a lovely lightness of touch with the cherryish brightness of fruit And swoft, elegant tannin structure, with touches of chocolate and a lovely core of acidity. Very loing and deliciuous. 93/100

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Cuvée Laurène 2005
This has the powerful charry oak quality on the nose again much like the 2005 Pinot Nor, and there is a sultry, deep but quite ripe fruit quality. The palate is enlivened by a refined orange acidity, with quite a tight, precise, controlled acidity. This is a very priceise, mineral style, with real energy. 92/100

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Cuvée Laurène 2001
This has a definite herbal, leafy edge, with the fruit coming through, and a nice earthiniess emerging. The palate has that herbal note to, with lovely acids and again that chartacteristic energy. 89/100

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