Love & Pinot Noir A Match Made in Heaven We invite you to join us on Saturday, February 11, as we celebrate the wines we love: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As is tradition, we'll be serving Drouhin wines from both Oregon and France. From DDO we're pleased to share our 2010 Chardonnay Arthur, the 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, and our 2008 Pinot Noir Laurène. We're especially excited to share 2 wines from Maison Joseph Drouhin from the acclaimed 2009 vintage: the Drouhin Vaudon Chablis and the Maison Joseph Drouhin Gevrey Chambertin. Event Details: When: Saturday, February 11, 11am to 3pm Cost: $20/person (includes tasting, an etched Riedel glass and a selection of artisanal cheeses). DDO Direct Members: Complimentary entrance for 4 people Please call or email with any questions. 503-864-2700 info@domainedrouhin.com
February: 2010 Chardonnay Arthur and 2010 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Credit Cards will be billed the week of February 6th and shipments will be sent via 3Day Air on February 20th. March: 2009 Pinot Noir Cuvee Louise Drouhin Credit Cards will be billed the week of March 5 and shipments will be sent via 3Day Air on March 12.
It is well known that 2008 was an incredible vintage in Oregon, and the fruit was as good as anything we’ve ever seen. A long, relatively mild growing season allowed for full ripeness, balanced acidity and lower alcohols - these are wines that will age comfortably in your cellar. And we're pleased to announce that our 2008 Laurène is now available! From Veronique’s Tasting Notes: "...layers of smoke, earth, orange peel and white pepper… black cherry, cassis, rhubarb and currant. The finish is very long, all of which points to a very long life." $65, Bottle $150, Magnum $325, Jeroboam
Please join us from 11 to 3 on Saturday, November 19 as we celebrate Thanksgiving early. The $20 entrance fee includes a Riedel Glass and a tasting of our new wines. Classique & Mid members receive complimentary entrance for 2 and Plus members receive complimentary entrance for 4. Special note: We will also be open from 11-3, the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving to welcome folks who are in town for the week and want to stock up on holiday wines but want to avoid the post-Thanksgiving rush. We will be closed November 24-26 in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, and will reopen on Sunday, November 27 from 11 to 4.
Our Tasting Room is open year round, Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 to 4. There are, however, a few days that we do close to spend time with our families. November 5th: We will be hosting a Pre-pre Thanksgiving event for our DDO Direct club members from 11:00-3:00. Classique & Mid members receive complimentary entrance for 2. Plus members receive complimentary entrance for 4. The fee is $20/person for additional guests. Thanksgiving Holidays: We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 25 and November 26. Our Tasting Room will have special hours, 11-3, on November 5, 19, 21-23. Winter Holidays: Our Tasting Room and Winery will be closed Saturday, December 24 through Monday, January 2. We will resume our regular Tasting Room schedule on Wednesday, January 4. Happy Holidays!
Our tasting room is open 7 days a week bewteen July 11th and October 16th. Effective October 19th, we will resume our normal tasting room schedule of Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00-4:00. Tours are offered by appointment for groups of up to 10 people at 10am or 1pm, Wednesday through Sunday. We do offer a limited number of tasting appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please call us for available times. (503) 864-2700 We hope to see you soon.
On Saturday, May 21, we'll host the one event of the year where DDO Direct members are invited to taste and enjoy the new Louise release. As a reminder, this event is open to members only. More details will follow soon, but we wanted to give you ample notice. About the 2008 Louise: 2008 is one of the all-time great Oregon vintages, and given that Louise represents the best of what Véronique makes each year, this is surely a wine for the ages. It is also a wine to collect, and all 750ml bottles have been allocated to DDO Direct members, but a few large formats still remain. 94 Points, The Wine Advocate "This intense offering will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and may well see its 20th birthday in style." Jay Miller 92 Points, International Wine Cellar "Saturated ruby... powerful and exotic... Juicy and extremely suave, with striking fruit intensity and mounting spiciness." Josh Reynolds 92 Points, Burghound "Ripe and densely aromatic nose of black cherry, cassis and an appealing floral note that gives way to delicious, concentrated and delectably textured flavors that really coat the palate. Drink 2015+." Allen Meadows
We are pleased to announce the release of our 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, a wine of beauty, depth and classic Pinot proportions. $40/Bottle, Save 10% on a case OR $20/Half-Bottle, $90/Magnum & $200/Jeroboam Véronique’s Tasting Notes: The 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is deep and vibrant, with brilliant color and excellent clarity. Aromatically, the wine is quite open, even opulent – a mix of velvety rose petals, violets and spices. On the palate, the texture is lush and mouth-coating, but well-balanced. Together, they provide definition and intensity, followed by refined, silky tannins. The finish is quite long, with beautiful cherry notes. While the ‘09 will age quite well, it is delicious to drink today.
The DDO Direct 2008 Laurène Aerial Release Party has been confirmed for Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. We’ll meet at 6am in Newberg, to be aloft no later than 6:30 am. Each balloon will have magnums of 2008 Laurène, and a friendly face from DDO. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy breakfast together. There are only 39 spots available for members of DDO Direct, and the cost is $160/person. Please call (503-864-2700) or email (ashley@domainedrouhin.com) to reserve a spot while they last.
Dear Friends, We are very pleased to announce our annual Louise Party, in celebration of the release of the 2008 Louise. This is one of our most anticipated events every year, and we hope you can attend. The Louise Party will be held Saturday, May 21, from 11am - 3pm, in our barrel room. This is an exclusive party for club members only and your membership entitles you and a guest to attend (2 total passes). If you have more people in your party, they are welcome to enjoy the tasting room upstairs, and rest assured, we'll make sure they have a great time. The tasting room fee is $10 and our Tasting Room hours will also be 11am - 3pm on this day. In addition to the 2008 Louise, we will share the 2008 Edition Limitée Chardonnay, 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley and 2007 Pinot Noir Laurène. We've hired Portland's Culinary Artistry to provide bites. All in all, it should be a wonderful day. An important note: we have only a small handful of magnums and jeroboams of 2008 Louise left. You won't want to miss out. If we can answer any questions, please call or email us. Cheers! Ashley, Dyane, Lauren & Terrie (503) 864-2700 ddoclub@domainedrouhin.com
For the past 24 years, the IPNC has been uniting Pinot fans and food lovers from around the world in the spirit of friendship and in celebration of Pinot noir in all its grand diversity. The 2011 IPNC will reunite winemakers, chefs, media and guests from the first event in 1987 and the past 24 gatherings. Join over 70 international Pinot noir producers, 50 Northwest chefs, and guests from near and far for a memorable weekend of eating, drinking, and celebrating together in Oregon wine country. Tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis! Call for availability at 800-775-4762. www.ipnc.org We're thrilled to again participate and annouce that winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss will be on hand representing the wines of Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy and of course Domaine Drouhin Oregon.
We're thrilled to again participate in the 3rd Annual Wine & Spirits Magazine "Top of the List" tasting. On Monday, May 10 join us from 6:30-8:30 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC for the tasting of the Top of the List- the most popular wines on America's top wine lists, paired with great bites from New & Notable Restaurants and local artisan purveyors such as ABC Kitchen, Ai Fiori, Grand Central Oyster Bar, La Maison du Chocolat and many more. Visit http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/toplist/ for more information and to purchase tickets. (Save $10 if you purchase between March 28 and April 11.)
This year, the Dundee Hills Passport weekend coincides with the release of our 2010 Pinot Noir Rosé – what we call an early sign of summer! In addition, our Dundee Hills flight will include our highly regarded Pinot Noir Laurène, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay Arthur. We look forward to sharing the Drouhin's vision of the Dundee Hills with you, and this weekend only, special discounts will be offered to Passport holders. Our Tasting Room is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday, 11am - 4pm. The fee to taste is $10/person, and passport holders receive a 50% discount on tasting fees. www.dundeehills.org
We hope that you can join us at this year’s three city Wine Spectator Grand Tour in Chicago, Las Vegas and Boston. Tickets are $200 each and may be ordered online: http://www.winespectator.com/micro/show/id/grandtour-intro Chicago: Thursday, May 12, 7 to 10pm Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue Las Vegas: Saturday, May 14, 7 to 10pm The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas Boston, Thursday, May 19, 7 to 10pm Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Avenue
One important note on holiday shipping: December 16 is our final day to ship wine via Overnight, to ensure it's delivered in time for Christmas. This means that December 15 is the last day we can accept orders for overnight shipping. If you place your order by December 10, it's eligible for Ground shipping. Orders placed December 16 - January 3 will be held and shipped on Tuesday, January 4th. If you have any questions, please contact us directly at 503-864-2700. Please note that our winery and Tasting Room will be closed December 24 through January 1. We will respond to any inquiries on Monday, January 3rd. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Our Tasting Room is open year round and will be open from 11 to 3 on Saturday and Sunday, November 27 and 28. Our tasting fee is $10 and refunded with $100 purchase. Groups of 8 or more must book appointments in advance. Please note we will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26. As is tradition, we will host our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Open House on Saturday, November 20 from 11 to 3. The entrance fee is $20 per person, and is waived for DDO Direct members and three guests.
We are thrilled to particpate in Wine Spectator's first New World Wine Experience—a dramatic expansion of the California Wine Experience. Registration for the weekend includes the Thursday and Friday evening Grand Tastings, the Friday and Saturday daytime sit-down conducted tastings, seminars, and luncheons, and the Saturday evening black-tie Grand Award Banquet. Date: October 28 through October 30 Location: The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas Visit http://www.winespectator.com/micro/show?id=40311 for more information and to register.
¡Salud! marks the world premier of Oregon’s finest Pinot Noir. Winemakers from the state’s foremost wineries will debut the 2009 vintage at this benefit for Oregon’s seasonal vineyard workers and their families. This event is the only opportunity to acquire unique cuvées made exclusively for ¡Salud! – the very best of the latest vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir. The Friday event is held at Domaine Drouhin Oregon and features 42 of Oregon’s most celebrated wineries. Mingle with the winemakers, enjoy their exclusive cuvées, and enhance your cellar with a case or two of your favorite wines. Each of the wineries will offer barrel samples of their special ¡Salud! Cuvées for tasting and only five individual cases from each winery will be available to the highest bidders. The Big Board Auction is held on Friday, November 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Dinner and Auction Gala are held at the Governor Hotel on Saturday, November 13. Visit www.saludauction.org for more information and to purchase tickets!
PinotFest 2010: A Public Tasting of a Sexy Wine San Francisco’s original, all-pinot noir bacchanalia returns to Farallon Restaurant on Saturday afternoon, November 20, 2010. We're thrilled to be one of 50 wineries represented at this festive celebration. Date: Saturday November 20, 2010 Time: 3:00 until 6:00 PM Place: Farallon, 450 Post Street, 4th Floor Ticket price: $100 per person, on sale October 1, 2010 To purchase tickets or for more information please call 415-956-6969 or visit www.farallonrestuarant.com.
We're thrilled to announce that our Tasting Room will be open from 11am to 4pm, 7 days/week, August 2 through October 12th. Tours of the winery will still be offered by appointment, Wednesday through Sunday. Groups of 8 or more need advance reservations. (Please note that our Tasting Room will be closed on Tuesday, September 14.) After Columbus Day, we'll return to our Wednesday through Sunday tasting schedule. In the meantime, we hope to see you at the winery soon!
Join DDO and 11 other NW wineries help raise money for the Greater New Orleans Foundation in what promises to be a great afternoon. Irving Street Kitchen is hosting the Whole Hog Roast and New Orleans themed festivities. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchaesd by calling Natalie at 503-343-9440 (Irving Street Kitchen). Slow Food members receive a 10% discount. Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010 Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Irving Street Kitchen Street: 701 NW 13th Avenue City/Town: Portland, OR
Our Tasting Room will be open on July 4th from 11am to 3pm. The tasting flight is $10 and includes our 2008 Chardonnay Arthur, 2009 Pinot Noir Rosé, 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley and our 2006 Pinot Noir Laurène. Please note that the winery will be closed on Monday, July 5th in honor of the holiday. Happy Independence Day!
Summer is here, which means the time for Rosé is now! In honor of warmer temperatures, we’ve created a RECIPE CONTEST! Through June 30, submit an original recipe to pair with our 2009 Pinot Noir Rosé on our FACEBOOK EVENTS page and be entered to WIN a $50 gift certificate. Here's how it works: ~ Post an original recipe to pair with our 2009 Pinot Noir Rosé on our FB Event Page. ~ On July 1, the DDO team will announce our favorite 4 recipes and turn the voting over to our Fans. ~ We will announce the Winner on July 6. ~ The $50 gift certificate that can be used online or in our Tasting Room. Visit our Facebook page for more information and to become a fan today: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Domaine-Drouhin-Oregon/422141095075 Best of luck!
Join DDO at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for a delicious 4 course paired dinner next Wednesday, May 19. The evening will open with a reception including our 2009 Edition Rosé Pinot Noir. Once all guests arrive, the following menu will be served. $125 per person. BBQ Shrimp Jumbo shrimp sautéed New Orleans-Style 2007 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur Panzanella Salad 2007 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Filet Oscar: A tender filet topped w/crab cake, asparagus & béarnaise. 2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène Chocolate Sin Cake Chocolate and Espresso Coffee & Tea service For reservations, please call 503-221-4518 http://www.ruthschris.com/Steak-House/Events/4095/Portland
WHAT: A group of chefs will each prepare a 125 pound heritage breed hog from head to toe for this friendly competition. Guests and professional judges will determine a winner based on presentation, utilization and overall best flavor. The winner will be crowned the “Prince / Princess of Porc”. In addition, five selected winemakers will showcase their wines. COCHON 555 is a tribute to heritage and heirloom breeds, chefs and winemakers. WWW.COCHON555.COM $125 PER PERSON The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. THE FIVE WINERIES: Anderson's Conn Valley Chehalem Wines Domaine Drouhin Oregon Donkey and Goat Winery Twomey Cellars THE FIVE CHEFS: R.J. COOPER – Vidalia Restaurant NICHOLAS STEFANELLI – Bibiana DAVID VARLEY - Bourbon Steak DAN SINGHOFEN - Eola JOE PALMA - Westend Bistro
Hello members of DDO Direct! As a member of our wine club, we thought you might like to join Véronique Drouhin and myself for a glass of wine next Thursday, March 11 from 5pm to 7pm at Jardinière Restaurant. We’ve reserved a private space so we can pour samples of our wines, including a sneak peak at the 2007 Louise. We’ll have some small plates available, too. If you decide to stay for dinner, please contact Jardinière directly and make reservations - we all know how wonderful it is! There is no cost for you and a guest - all you have to do is RSVP to me by next Tuesday, March 9. Thursday, March 11, 5pm to 7pm Jardinière Restaurant: 300 Grove Street, San Francisco If you have a special friend that you think might enjoy getting to know more about Domaine Drouhin, Véronique, and our wine club, please let me know so I can do my best to accommodate. See you next week! Ashley Bell email: ashley@domainedrouhin.com mobile: 503-537-4147
Please mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18 as we release the highly anticipated 2009 Edition Rosé. Please visit our website in the coming weeks for more specific release details. This is just another reason to get excited about Spring's arrival!
Join Assistant Winemaker, Arron Bell, at the most anticipated event of the year in Birmingham, Alabama. The Vintage Wine Shoppe is hosting Alabama's Version of Oregon Pinot Camp on Tuesday, February 16 at the B&A Warehouse from 5 to 8:30pm. Domaine Drouhin is just one of 27 wineries featuring Pinot Noir at this highly anticipated annual event. Tickets are available now. $30 in advance ($40 at the door) http://vintagewineshoppe.net/
Please join us in the cellars here at DDO as we celebrate the release of the 2007 Pinot Noir Cuvée Louise, on Saturday, May 22, from 12-3 pm. A spectacular wine, the 2007 Louise is everything our Pinot Noir can promise, and more. This is the one event of the year where DDO Direct members are invited to taste and enjoy the new Louise release. As a reminder, this event is open to members only.
Love & Pinot Noir - A Match Made in Heaven Saturday, February 13, 11am to 3pm Please join us for our favorite day in February, as we celebrate our loved ones (people and wines). On Saturday, February 13, we’ll pour Drouhin wines from Oregon and Burgundy - a perfect opportunity to enjoy the family’s personal vision for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This year we’re pleased to debut two Drouhin Burgundies exclusive to DDO: the 2008 Chablis Moirein, Premier Cru and the 2007 Savigny Les Beaune Talmettes, Premier Cru. $20 per person, includes etched Riedel glass and a selection of artisinal cheeses. DDO Direct members receive complimentary entrance for 4. For more information call 503-864-2700, or email info@domainedrouhin.com
Join us on March 11 for an evening of Willamette Valley wines in Seattle! We will be one of 50+ Oregon wineries at the Willamette Valley Winery Association's first tasting in Seattle. Our Managing Director, David Millman, will showcase a few fun wines from DDO, alongside other producers featuring Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling and other cool-climate varietals. Wines will be complemented by delicious Pinot-friendly appetizers featuring regionally sourced ingredients from sustainably focused producers. Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010 5:30 – 8:30pm Location: Sodo Park by Herban Feast Visit www.willamettewines.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
Véronique Drouhin-Boss will be on hand for Daniel Johnnes’ incredible fête du vin, held alternately in New York and San Francisco. Is there more great Burgundy in one place at one time (outside of Burgundy)? Not on this night! Visit www.lapaulee.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
Hosted on one of the most pristine strips of coastline in the world, Pebble Beach Food & Wine celebrates 60 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries during this unforgettable four-day event. Join DDO's Managing Director, David Millman, at this celebration of excellence. Please visit www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com for more information.
Our Tasting Room is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 to 4. In honor of the holidays, we will be closed December 24 through January 1st. The last day to taste with us in 2009 is on Wednesday, December 23. We will resume our regular Tasting Room schedule in 2010 on Saturday, January 2nd. Happy Holidays!
We know many of you ship our wine to your friends and family as gifts during the holidays, which we deeply appreciate. To make the process a little friendlier, our shopping cart allows for multiple addresses in a single transaction, so you don’t have to spend time creating individual purchases. To make the process a little sweeter, we’ve extended a 20% discount on all combined case purchases of our 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley & 2007 Chardonnay Arthur. You can send a bottle here, three bottles over there, six bottles to someone else, and the rest to yourself – however you do it, if it adds up 12, the discount will apply. Simply enter coupon code sweeter through December 14 to save 20%. Another popular gift is a year of membership within our wine club, DDO Direct. You can choose how many bottles to give from 3 membership levels. More information can be found in the wine club area of our shopping cart. One important note: December 15 is our final day to ship wine in time for Christmas, so December 14 is the last day we can accept orders. Happy Holidays!
The 2005 Pinot Noir Laurène and 2007 Chardonnay Arthur are now available! The 2005 Laurène is a classic. Though always well-received, the 2005 Laurène has received more pre-release accolades than any of our wines in recent memory. We rarely trumpet scores, but we are happy to mention that the wine has already received 93pts from the Wine Advocate, 92 pts from both Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar and Wine & Spirits Magazine. The 2007 Chardonnay Arthur is, as Arthur tends to be, a delight. This year, the wine took a slower, more deliberate path during fermentation, but it has certainly achieved the completeness we strive for. Fresh, with sensational acidity and lift, the 2007 Arthur emphasizes the signature floral aromatics and palate presence that has earned it so much attention in recent years. Both will be welcome additions to your cellar!
The Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association Presents: The 3rd Annual Dundee Hills Wine Experience at the Lawrence Gallery on Friday, August 28, from 6PM - 10PM (doors close at 9) Tickets: $50 (online) & $65 (at the door) Includes Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir Glass. We invite you to meet with Dundee Hills winemakers, winegrowers and retailers while you taste over 40 wines from the birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir and sample cuisine from the Red Hills Provincial Dining. The event includes a silent auction to benefit Salud! Visit www.dundeehills.org to purchase tickets and for more information.
Tanner Creek Energy announced today the completion of a 94.5 kilowatt (kW) solar energy system at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, the famed winery in Oregon's Dundee Hills (Willamette Valley). The 94.5kW ground-mounted system is currently the Oregon wine industry's largest solar panel system. Tanner Creek Energy, the most experienced supplier of solar energy systems to the Oregon wine industry, designed and installed the system, which consists of over 500 state-of-the-art Photovoltaic (PV) panels. Despite its size, the Southwest-facing system integrates well into the estate's vineyard landscape. Phillippe Drouhin, a fourth generation member of the esteemed Drouhin Family of Burgundy, was the driving force behind the winery's commitment to the project. Responsible for the family's estate viticulture in Burgundy and Oregon, Philippe embraces environmentally-friendly business practice on both sides of the Atlantic. According to David Millman, Domaine Drouhin Oregon's Managing Director, "We chose Tanner Creek because of their excellent previous work and their effort to have this make sense for a winery, both financially and in terms of our relationship to the land and environment. We also appreciated their help in handling the various administrative hurdles along the way. Perhaps most important was their determination to keep the project elements local to Oregon and their demonstrated commitment to the Oregon wine industry." Tanner Creek Energy has successfully completed nearly 500kW of solar energy systems in Oregon and the company is one of the largest developers of solar energy systems in the state. Alan Hickenbottom, founder of Tanner Creek, said, "The Drouhin Family has inspired many people through their wine, and we think their commitment to renewable energy will be viewed as equally inspirational. We couldn't ask for better partners in a project."
We’re teaming up with our friends at Scott Paul Wines/Imports for two special flights at Oregon Wines on Broadway on Thursday, April 9th from 5-8 p.m.! Domaine Drouhin Oregon Flight: $15 2007 DDO Chardonnay Arthur 2006 DDO Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2005 DDO Pinot Noir Laurène Scott Paul Wines/Imports Flight: $15 Domaine Marc Chauvet Champagne 2006 Scott Paul La Paulée Pinot Noir 2007 Scott Paul Audrey Pinot Noir (pre-release offering) 2006 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Chambolle Musigny If you love Oregon wines and haven’t checked out Kate’s shop in downtown Portland, this would be a great opportunity. www.oregonwinesonbroadway.com We hope that you can join us!
We invite you to join Laurent Drouhin for dinner at Spruce restaurant in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 24. The dinner will highlight the wines from Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Maison Joseph Drouhin. The price of this dinner is $130 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity. Please call 415.931.5100 to make a reservation. Spruce 3640 Sacramento Street 415-931-5100 www.sprucesf.com
"The 2005 Laurène has just been released, and I don’t feel the least hesitation in declaring this one of the finest Oregon pinot noirs yet made." Matt Kramer: The Oregonian, Oct. 12, 2008 "It’s an exemplar of the 2005 vintage, which created some of Oregon’s most austere, potentially long-lived and detailed pinot noirs. Laurène 2005, one of the last-released among the 2005s, captures the style and depth of this exceptional vintage. Dense, rich, buttoned-down yet still delivering surprising breadth of flavor right now, the 2005 Laurène offers strong notes of game and leather (the effect of the Pommard clone of pinot noir that makes up about one-third of the blend), along with spices and an invigorating, faintly medicinal note. All of that is buoyed by an intense, dimensional wild cherry savor, among other classic berryish pinot noir flavor notes. Experience reveals that Laurène will do nothing but improve -- and considerably so -- over the next decade. This is surely so with a vintage like 2005. Is it worth the $65 asking price? In a word: absolutely. (Distributor is Young’s Columbia.) Worth noting: Relatively few Oregon pinot noirs are offered in what are known as “large formats,” which is collector talk for oversize bottles. Domaine Drouhin Oregon is one of the few to regularly offer these large formats. Apart from theatrics -- and there’s no doubting that bringing a magnum to the table rather than two regular-size (750 milliliter) bottles makes an impact -- do large-format bottlings make any difference? The answer is “yes.” Wines do seem to age slower and longer in big bottles. Collectors buy them because they bring higher prices at auction. Others like them because they say “special occasion” like nothing else. Laurène 2005 is available in magnums (1.5 liters) for $150 and jeroboams (3 liters) for $325."
Also, we're getting many questions about the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, and once again we'll be closed to allow us to spend time with our families. That said, we will be absolutely delighted if you can join us on the pre-Thanksgiving Saturday, November 22, between 12pm and 3pm. The cost is $20/person, which includes a Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass and a tasting of our current releases. Classique and Mid members each receive two complimentary admissions and Plus members receive four complimentary admission to this event.
We're pleased to announce our annual harvest event, which is scheduled for Sunday, October 26th, from 12pm - 3pm. Because of this year's later harvest, it was impossible to confirm this event until now, but we know you'll enjoy the chance to discuss the 2008 vintage with winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss, as well as ask her about our new releases, the 2005 Pinot Noir Laurène and 2007 Chardonnay Arthur. Classique and Mid members each receive two complimentary admissions and Plus members receive four complimentary admission to this event; additional guests are $20/person and must be booked in advance. We kindly ask you to email us, ddoclub@domainedrouhin.com, with an RSVP if you plan to join us for the celebration.
July 25-27, 2008 Since 1987, the IPNC has flying the flag for Pinot Noir, bringing enthusiasts from around the world to McMinnville, OR to enjoy this magical grape. We can tell you that the program for this year’s event is sensational, we’re very much looking forward to pouring our wines, and we can’t wait to welcome you to our corner of the world. Visit www.ipnc.org for more details.
April 29 and May 3, 2008 We’re very pleased to have been invited once again to participate in the Wine Spectator’s traveling celebration of the world’s best wines. If you haven’t been – treat yourself. Click here for more details: http://www.winespectator.com/GrandTour/WSgrandtour.html
Feb. 25 - March 2, 2008 One of the most celebrated and largest events in the Northwest, the “Playhouse” takes over gorgeous Vancouver for a non-stop extravaganza of amazing wines from around the world. Click here for more details: http://www.playhousewinefest.com
Feb. 21-24, 2008 Véronique and Laurent Drouhin will participate in the 2008 South Beach Food & Wine Festival, which has quickly become one of the premier events in the US. Véronique will also take part in the D’Vine Divas dinners, which brings together top female chefs and winemakers in an over-the-top extravaganza. For more information, click: http://www.sobewineandfoodfest.com/2008/index.php
March 1, 2008 The legendary NYC bacchanalia comes to San Francisco for the kind of epic event that only Daniel Johnnes could pull together. Véronique Drouhin will represent Maison Joseph Drouhin, and for the lucky few who are able to wrangle tickets, this will be something to remember for a very long time. http://danieljohnnes.com/index.html
Love & Pinot Noir - A Match Made In Heaven! When: Saturday, February 9, 11am to 3pm $20/per person Please join us for our favorite day in February, as we celebrate our loved ones (people and wines). As always, we’ll pour Drouhin wines from Oregon and Burgundy - a perfect opportunity to enjoy the family’s personal vision for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. $20 entrance fee includes an etched Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass and a selection of accompaniments. DDO Direct members receive complimentary entrance for 2. For more information, call 503-864-2700, or email Ashley@domainedrouhin.com
At long last, Fall is here. The changing colors are magical, as is the sense of connection one feels to the vines. Having watched these incredible plants progress from budbreak to flowering to veraison to full maturity, one can’t help but feel that they’ve earned the right to sleep for a while. Harvest 2007 will be long remembered as a vintage that demanded excellence from both the vineyard manager and the winemaker. Not that one ever gets a chance to ‘relax,’ but 2007 was more punishing to those who weren’t at the top of their game all year long. In the end, the extraordinary condition of our vineyards gave us the luxury of waiting for the right moment to pick each block. Over the course of nearly four weeks, we planned our moves, literally one day at a time. Exhausting, but necessary. Now, all of our Pinot Noir has been pressed and is safely in barrel. The emerging portrait of 2007 is fascinating, and clearly delicious. Stay tuned for more detail as it unfolds.