Winery - Domaine Serene
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
From Dijon clones, this is oaked-up big time in the winery style; the fruit is tightly wound and apple-flavored, but the oak really is the whole story here. To my taste it has a bitter edge; I would give it plenty of breathing time to try to soften it up.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Soft and rich, with appealing flavors of chocolate, cherry and butterscotch, this is a seductive wine. It is ripe but not hot, and the chocolaty richness wraps around the sweet cherry fruit but retains just enough of the leafy quality that defines it as Oregon. Nice balance and structure too.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The winery continues its string of successes in the difficult 2003 vintage, with another dense, soft, lush and elegant single vineyard release. Intense and sweetly fruity, it shows strong raspberry and cherry character that is nicely integrated with the toast and caramel of new French oak. Ripe and drinking well, it nonetheless has the structure to age a while.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This feels just a little bit thin, with a yeasty/beery character. Highlights of lemon oil and orange peel ripple through, into a finish with a suggestion of heat. Further bottle age might improve the score.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This opens with a very pretty nose—scents of clay, mineral, blueberry, cassis and a whiff of rather high-toned volatility. In the mouth the barrel flavors bring dusty cocoa and chocolate. A full-bodied wine, still young, sharp and edgy. Best to give it a few more years in the cellar, to smooth out some of the rawness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This was presented from a bottle that had been open for a day. The scents and flavors were a bit muted, with plump plum and blueberry fruit, a whiff of animal and herb. The acidity has a strong citrus character that juts out, even after so much time to breathe.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a ripe year, but this vineyard designation isn’t quite as tropical as their Côte Sud. It’s more of a precise style, but there are also some hints of grass, onion and herb. Interesting, but very slightly off.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dijon clone again. This has just the vaguest hint of onion, but otherwise is much improved over this property’s ’99. There is good, juicy, crisp fruit mixing apple/apricot and light citrus. Balanced acids and a well integrated middle that leads into a somewhat hot, stiff finish. Young and edgy, but well made.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This seems a bit overripe in the nose; definitely an ultraripe style, with flavors of peach, apricot and mango. Real tropical, still has decent acids, but the fruit went a bit too far, and there is a definite sweetness too, along with some breakfast toast oak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The alcohol comes in just under 14%, but the wine tastes a little harsh and the tannins hint at green tea flavors. The fruit is subdued, dark, a little smoky, peppery and very herbal. This definitely needs to be decanted.
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