Domaine Drouhin Roserock Zéphirine Pinot Noir 2016

Super pure aromas of vibrant, red and darker cherries and subtle, foresty complexity. The palate has a very supple, lithe and juicy feel with abundant and intense, concentrated and very pure, red and black-cherry flavors.

The 2016 Roserock Zéphirine Pinot Noir is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with a blackberry and black cherry pie nose with suggestions of pepper-crusted meat, dried violets and forest floor. Light to medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with black fruits and touches of cardamom, softly framed by grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long with sweet fruits.

Supple and vibrant, with gracefully complex dark cherry, orange peel and herbal tea flavors that build structure toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.

Still quite young and showing some grapey fruit flavors, this second vintage release is bursting with purple fruit and chocolate malt flavors. Streaks of cola and a mineral-drenched finish add depth and texture.

Brilliant red. Ripe red and blue fruits, candied flowers, incense and a hint of licorice on the deeply perfumed nose. A spine of juicy acidity provides lift and structure to sweet raspberry and boysenberry flavors that open up slowly on the back half. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long, showing resonating red fruit character and sneaky, harmonious tannins. This 279-acre vineyard is a new project for Domaine Drouhin Oregon and these are the inaugural releases. A Chardonnay is also being made and the wines are reflective of the DDO style, with solid backbones and the requisite structure for aging. Unsurprisingly, they show their Burgundian roots, with complex aromatic character that leans toward the savory without coming off too wild. (JR) (8/2016)