Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir (2005)

Joseph Drouhin is a well established vineyard in the heart of Burgundy, France.  The Domaine includes vineyards in regions such as Chablis, Cote d'Or and Saone et Loire.  Over twenty years ago, Drouhin expanded to the United States, starting vineyards in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  From those vineyards, Domaine Drouhin Oregon grows pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.  And, in Oregon, Domaine Drouhin produces some amazing wines.

One such wine is the Laurene, which is a wine named for oldest daughter of winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss.  The wine is made from grapes grown at the family's vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA.  According to the vineyard, the pinot noir grapes are picked into small bushels and the wine is fermented using indigenous yeasts.  The wine is aged in French oak barrels (with no more than 20% new oak).  Veronique Drouhin-Boss oversees the aging wine, picking the best barrels to make the Laurene.

Drouhin has been making the Laurene since 1991.  Clare and I purchased a bottle of the 2005, which we recently drank in celebration of our upcoming one year, five month anniversary.  The wine is a great example of a pinot noir, and provided a good contrast to the Sokol Blosser wine we previously drank.  Whereas the Sokol Blosser wine was earthy, the Laurene was smooth.  The smooth taste was very fruit forward, with a lot of berries.  I'm not sure about any other tastes or flavors (such as vanilla), but I could definitely taste cherries and maybe some plum in the wine.

At $65 a bottle, it is one of the most expensive bottles of wine we have enjoyed.  But it was definitely worth the price.  The wine is available in Oregon or for purchase online.

ENJOY!