95 points James Suckling
Super complex and rich with a ripe array of red to dark-cherry and plum aromas, as well as toasted-spice oak influence. This has much to enjoy already. The palate has a very rich, fleshy and intense, layered appeal with a swirling, spicy thread of rich red cherries and long, fine, supple tannins.
95 points Wine Enthusiast
The lush aromatics immediately grab your attention with a tantalizing mix of berries and barrel toast. Already in perfect balance, this young wine weaves its components into a textural mesh highlighted with coffee liqueur and hints of fresh herb. Further bottle age and/or decanting is recommended.
94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Laurène opens with pure raspberry, rhubarb and aniseed perfume with accents of bergamot and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated, super spicy, firm and very fresh, finishing uplifted and loaded with perfumed fruits. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle.
93 points Wine Spectator
A wine of polish and presence, with structured raspberry and cherry flavors that draw in tarragon and steely mineral accents as this builds tension toward fine-grained tannins.
Laurene Pinot Noir, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, 2021
Ratings
95, James Suckling | 95, Wine Enthusiast | 95, IWR | 94, Wine Advocate | 94, Decanter | 94, Vinous | 93, Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
In many ways, the 2018 Laurène embodies what we love most about wines from the Dundee Hills. Offering beautiful clarity and a garnet color on approach, the aromatics brim with notes of dried red cherry, spice, wild herbs, earth, and subtle oak. Characteristically elegant, the wine evolves on the palate, moving seamlessly from its pomegranate welcome into its detailed lines of clove, white pepper, and cranberry. As always, cellaring the Laurène over the next 5-15 years will be well rewarded.
Production Notes
Named after Véronique Boss-Drouhin’s elder daughter, Laurène is our flagship wine and is produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on the family’s estate in the Dundee Hills. The fruit is handpicked into small totes, destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then placed into French Oak barrels. Once the vintage is safely in the cellar, Véronique begins the process of selecting barrels which have an extra complexity, length, and depth — barrels which will work together as Laurène.
Vintage Notes
Our exceptional run of vintages here in Oregon continues with 2018. The season started on a slightly wet and cool note leading to late bud break, but caught up quickly. After dry weather and occasional heat spikes in July and August, the end of summer brought comfortable temperatures, a little rainfall, and the perfect set up for harvest.
Technical
Alcohol :14.1%
Harvest Date: 9/26/18-10/4/18
Bottling Date: 2/10/20-2/13/20