Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2022
(Dundee Hills, Oregon) - [JS 94] [WE 94] [DM 94] [WA 94]

About the Winery: 
Domaine Drouhin has been on the viticultural cutting edge in Oregon since their first vintage in 1988, and continues to set the pace. Winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss’ roots go deep into her family’s 13th century cellars under the streets of Beaune, the heart of Burgundy. With centuries of Burgundian winemaking experience flowing through her blood, Véronique has lovingly crafted every drop of wine produced at Domaine Drouhin Oregon since the first vintage in 1988.

About the Wine:
1988 marked the first vintage of our Pinot Noir cuvée. Over three decades later, this classic cuvée is the foundation of our work in Oregon, and proudly at home on many great wine lists and in personal cellars. The fruit is harvested entirely from the Drouhin family’s Dundee Hills estate, and the wine is focused, as ever, on elegance, balance and finesse.

Winemaking
Our Pinot Noir is handpicked into 25-pound totes, then hand sorted and de-stemmed in our four level gravity flow winery. Fermentations are long and careful and by November, all of our Pinot is safely in barrel. Our barrels are custom made in Burgundy, using oak from France’s best forests, allowing the character of the soil and vintage to show. through.

Vintage 2022:
The 2022 growing season began with great optimism. After a reasonable winter, bud break started in early April, right on schedule. Then, an unprecedented arctic air mass swept in, bringing snowfall, below-freezing temperatures, and the first-ever frost to impact our vineyards. Subsequent cool and damp conditions over the next few months caused sluggish vine growth, putting us 2-4 weeks behind by June. Mercifully, Mother Nature bestowed abundant sunshine and higher-than-average temperatures on us as harvest approached, resulting in a gentle conclusion to the season and excellent fruit ripeness. While the Pinot Noir crop volumes were lower than usual, the quality of the fruit was exceptional - a compromise that we gladly accept.

Véronique’s Tasting Notes:
The 2022 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir focuses the complexity of the vintage into a radiant, red ruby hue. The nose is a tight and delightful gathering of tart cherries, peony, pomegranate, red fruits, and wood spice, leading to similar flavors on the palate. Balanced and clear acidity points towards the wine’s customary elegance and longevity. Well-rounded and loveable. Santé!

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"This is complex and layered, with spiced cherries, aged tangerine peel, crushed spices and nutshells. Some licorice notes. Medium- to full-bodied, structured and polished with a firm backbone of very fine tannins and earthy undertones. Lingering finish. Drink or hold." (March 2024)

94 Points - Decanter:
"The entry-level Willamette Valley bottling from Drouhin punches well above its weight class and is perfectly classic in style. Ripe and rustic aromatics of country bramble berries, dusty gravel and violets offer signature notes of the Dundee Hills. The palate is redolently fruited, with ripe strawberries, early-season blackberries and mouthfuls of country spice. Delightfully complex and compelling. 2024-2032." (7/24)

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills has pure, layered scents of cranberry, forest floor, licorice, bitters and tea leaves. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and nuanced. It’s structured by dusty tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, spicy finish. 2025-2040." -EB (12/24)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"I've had several vintages of this wine and this is my favorite so far. Despite hitting 14.1% abv, it feels light on its feet, with a nice balance between gentle acidity and velvety tannins. Look for aromas and flavors of briary raspberries, graphite, earth and coffee with cream." - Michael Alberty (July 2024)