2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Cuvée Arthur
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Tasting notes
Véronique runs Domaine Drouhin where Burgundian soul meets American soil. The first vines were planted in 1988, and now Domaine Drouhin has 72 acres of Pinot Noir and 13 acres of Chardonnay. These 85 acres (34 ha) of vineyards share a nearly identical climate, latitude and aspect with their counterparts in France. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings are a mixture of assorted Dijon clones grafted onto a variety of rootstocks. Light, sweet nose with vegetal notes. Lots of emphasis on restraint and delicate texture but I do rather miss some savoury element. And I’m conscious of the alcohol. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Light toffee and baked apple on the nose, then bold fruit intensity with grapefruit and crab apple aromas. Tangy but fulsome too. (RH)
(raised in a 50/50 combination of stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels, 20 percent of the oak new) Light gold. Intense, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, complicated by hints of buttered toast and honeysuckle. Lush and creamy but focused as well, offering concentrated dried pear and peach flavors and a touch of bitter lemon pith. Turns firmer on the incisive finish, which repeats the citrus and mineral notes and leaves a hint of chamomile behind.
The 2015 Chardonnay Estate Arthur offers notions of fresh grapefruit, warm pears and honeydew melon with suggestions of coriander seed, baking bread and clotted cream. Medium-bodied, with a lively line of invigorating acidity cutting through the intense citrus and spicy flavors, it has a pleasant creaminess to the texture and some minerals coming through on the finish.