2021 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Zephirine

Taking on more complexity, the 2021 Pinot Noir Rose Rock Zephirine was bottled unfined and unfiltered with 22 months of élevage. Ripe ruby-red, it offer layers of spice and ripe fruit, with loads of framboise, fresh pine needles, and toasted cardamom spice. On the palate. It’s full-bodied and refined with sweet tannins, balanced ripe fruit, and a soft, stony mouthfeel. Drink 2023-2033. This was my second visit to the estate of Domaine Drouhin, where I met with David Millman and assistant winemaker Arron Bell. This benchmark estate was founded in 1987 in the Dundee Hills by the Burgundian estate Maison Joseph Drouhin, and fourth-generation winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss oversees the estate today. Given Domaine Drouhin’s commanding presence in the region, it’s always fantastic to see when the wines reach and even exceed expectations across the portfolio, as they have certainly done in the 2021 vintage.

Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.