Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir 2023 Red Wine

Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir 2023 

Willamette Valley, OR

750 ml

97 pt. James Suckling:

"Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. It is deep in black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers in the finish. Drink or hold."

95 pts. Jeb Dunnuck:

"A touch more saturated red in color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is deeper and more layered in the glass, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed fl oral perfume. It has a refi ned and plush texture, with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025-2040."

94 pts. Wine Advocate:

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène has dramatically opening scents of black cherry, blueberry, tobacco, damp earth and garrigue. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled, matching concentrated, nuanced flavors with seamlessly integrated oak spice. It’s structured by velvety tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from time in the cellar. 3,725 cases produced."

94 pts. Vinous:

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is darkly floral, with a coy mix of dusty lavender and violets complementing dried black cherries. A round and supple persona soothes as ripe wild berry fruits wash across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Stainingly long, the finish boasts a pleasant black-tea-like bitterness that tugs at the cheeks. Classic to the core."

In Burgundy, France, the Drouhin family has been producing award-winning wines under the Maison Joseph Drouhin label since 1880. Descendants of Joseph, siblings Veronique and Philippe Drouhin started making wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1987 after discovering the many similarities the region shares with Burgundy, and thus the potential for producing exceptional Pinot Noirs there. These people really know what they're doing, as evidenced in this extraordinary Pinot! – Wine Factor

FROM THE WINERY

Tasting Notes

Elegant and expressive, the 2023 Laurène opens with aromas of lilac, cardamom, and pitted cherries. The nose is lifted and complex, with floral notes giving way to a savory undercurrent. On the palate, layers of ripe summer berries unfold alongside subtle baking spices and crushed herbs, all held in graceful balance. The extended finish offers a glimpse into Laurène’s very promising future.

Production Notes

Named after Véronique Boss-Drouhin’s elder daughter, Laurène is our flagship wine and is produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on the family’s estate in the Dundee Hills. The fruit is handpicked into small totes, destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then placed into French Oak barrels. Once the vintage is safely in the cellar, Véronique begins the process of selecting barrels which have an extra complexity, length, and depth — barrels which will work together as Laurène.

Vintage Notes

In 2023, budbreak was unusually late, starting on April 30. Next came an unexpected heat surge and minimal rainfall, a lasting pattern which compressed the period from budbreak to bloom to less than 45 days (a record)! Our vineyards adapted well to these surprises, and when harvest started on September, the fruit looked great. Towards the end of the month, we saw some significant rains. The overall harvest concluded on October 5.