2017 Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA (750ml)

Winemaker Notes 2017 marked their 30th Anniversary in Oregon, and the 2017 Laurène marks the 26th release of this cuvée named for their daughter. The wine has charm and character—vibrant, yet restrained, which allows the vintage’s detail to be expressed. On the nose, the 2017 Laurène carries notes of pure, sweet cherry, pomegranate, baking spice, ripe blackberries, wild herbs, and fresh sage. While intensely woven now, a few years of cellaring will reveal silk, elegance, and expressive depth of texture. I trust this wine will age for 8-10 years effortlessly. A selection of around 100 barrels from the Dundee Hills estate pinot, this has a deeply grounded and confidently defined feel on the palate with density of tannin and a strong, noble core that carries long and builds so convincingly. Long, sustained, seamless quality to the finish. Drink over the next decade. James Suckling 95pts Not to overgeneralize, but many if not most Willamette Valley Pinots were significa