Domaine Serene - Awards & Reviews

#15 - TOP 100 CELLAR SELECTIONS OF 2011

2007 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir

A very elegant and refined Evenstad Reserve, with grace notes of sandalwood and a lovely cherry core. The fruit is immaculate, the concentration focused and lengthy, and the flavors are so artfully blended that the wine is seamless and perfectly balanced. Although it is drinking like a mature wine, there is every reason to cellar wines such as this— it can develop like a fine Burgundy, over decades.

From Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 197) "Domaine Serene’s chardonnays are outstanding and fairly priced for what they deliver." - Dr. Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate
	2009 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: Displays a pefume of minerals, poached pear, and melon. In the glass it opens to reveal a supple texture, spicy flavors, good depth and balance and a medium-long finish.
	2009 "Cote Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: Displays a bit more acidity and a richer mid-palate than the Clos de Soleil.
	2009 "Etoile Vineyard" Chardonnay: A ripe, savory, plush offering.
	2009 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Offers up an aromatic array of smoke, rose petal, incense, black cherry and black raspberry. Sweetly fruited with outstanding depth. It has the structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will provide optimum drinking from 2012 to 2019.
2009 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Black cherry, and black raspberry. It is the densest, richest, and most layered of the Serene offerings and will reward 1-2 years of cellaring. It offers a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2021.
2009 "Winery Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Delivers a lovely nose of spice, red fruits, incense, cinnamon, and cherry blossom. Savory, ripe, and smooth textured, it has the balance and structure to evolve for another 1-2 years. It deftly captures the best features of the 2009 vintage.

DOMAINE SERENE featured in the
2012 FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE WINE GUIDE

From page 197: This Willamette winery consistently turns out some of the most remarkable Pinot Noirs in the U.S., including the bold, rich Evenstad Reserve, named for owners Ken and Grace Evenstad. Three Chardonnays and a Walla Walla Syrah round out the portfolio.

2008 "Cote Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: Grapes from the Cote Sud vineyard's sunny, south-facing slopes ripen more reliably, yielding this zesty, peach-driven white with toasty, vanilla oak notes.

2007 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: A seamless, supple mix of cherry, strawberry and cedary oak undertones.

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE

WINE ENTHUSIAST (October 2011 Issue)
	EDITOR'S CHOICE 2008 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Domaine Serene is making nuanced wines that truly capture the terroir of their spectacular Dundee Hills vineyards. Here is a beautiful mix of supple fruits - cherries and berries, with appealing sweetness - along with delicate highlights of spice and herb. It's finished with a creamy streak of buttery chocolate. Pure pleasure. - P.G.”
	2008 "Etoile Vineyard" Chardonnay: "Estate-grown, fermented in small, neurtral oak and giving extended lees stirring in the Burgundian style, this concentrated, texterual, sensuous offering brings instensity on all fronts. The deep flavors of lemon, orange, apple and pear are wrapped in bright acids and lightly toasty tannins. Excellent concentration and length. - P.G."
	#15 - TOP 100 CELLAR SELECTIONS OF 2011 2008 "Winery Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “A tight, spicy Pinot with a chocolate heart, this has a lot of aging potential. The fruit and tannins are tightly wound at the moment, with a lavish coating of milk chocolate from the barrel aging. Cellar it anouther 5-6 years and let it knit together. - P.G."

	WINE SPECTATOR Aug 31, 2011
	2008 "Winery Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Lithe and satiny, this glows with rich plum, blueberry, clove and crême caramel flavors, melding smoothly and lingering on the refined, evocative finish. Shows density and elegance. Best from 2013 through 2020. - H.S.”
	2008 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Supple, refined, elegant and generous, showing richness and grace. A gorgeous mouthful of blueberry, plum, sandalwood and black tea flavors linger expressively on the spicy finish. Drink now through 2020. —H.S.”
	2008 "Cote Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: "Supple and graceful, glowing with pear, lime, cream and clove flavors that expand beautifully on the long, vivid finish. This has both stuffing and elegance, with the balance to last. Drink now through 2016."
	2008 "Etoile Vineyard" Chardonnay: "Bright, vivid, focused and distinctive for its mineral accents around a silky core of pineapple, pear and citrus. This has the stuff to develop in the bottle. Drink now through 2015."

	WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER February 9, 2011
	2008 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir:“Velvety, focused and extraordinarily expressive, offering a lovely mouthful of plum, blueberry and mineral flavors that gain momentum on the medium-weight finish, persisting enticingly. The structure seems to melt away, and the flavors just hang in there. Drink now through 2018. - H.S.”
	2008 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: “Pure and focused aromatically, with blueberry, plum, spice and loam aromas leaping from the glass. The firm tannins have bite, but the complex flavors shoot through on the lively finish. Shows depth and grace. Best from 2013 through 2018.—H.S.”

WINE SPECTATOR (Dec. 30, 2010 Issue)
	2007 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: ""The cinnamon-scented black currant, cherry and floral notes come through strongly against the fine tannins on the finish. Needs time to settle into itself, but this is a keeper. Best from 2012 through 2020."
	2008 Coeur Blanc: “Raw, round and generous with its leesy, minerally pear, green mango and spice flavors. Finishes with refinement and more mineral. Drink now through 2014.”
	2007 "Etoile Vineyard" Chardonnay: “A polished and supple Chardonnay, thid is spicy, featuring nutmeg and tobacco overtones to the pear and custard flavors. Lingers on the finish, with a hint of butterscotch. Drink now through 2014.”
	2008 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: “Polished and round, with an earthy edge to the pear and lime flavors. The tangy finish picks up toasty, creamy notes. Drink now through 2013.”

	WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER October 20, 2010
	2007 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "The cinnamon-scented black currant, cherry and floral notes come through strongly against the fine tannins on the finish. Needs time to settle into itself, but this is a keeper. Best from 2012 through 2020.—H.S."

From Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 191) "Domaine Serene’s 2008 Pinot Noirs are outstanding across the portfolio." - Dr. Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate
	2008 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Made entirely from Dijon clones and was aged for 16 months in 80% new French oak. It offers up a multi-dimensional aromatic array of smoke, rose petal, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. Sweetly fruited with outstanding depth, it has the structure to evolve for several years. This lengthy effort will be at its best from 2013 to 2023.
	2008 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: An exceptionally fragrant and expressive nose of sandalwood, spice box, incense, floral notes, black cherry, and black raspberry, It is the densest, richest, and most layered of the Serene offerings along with exceptional length and precision. It will reward 4-5 years of cellaring and should easily see its 20th birthday.
2008 "Winery Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Also made from Dijon clones. Not quite as expressive as the other single vineyard bottllings, it nevertheless delivers a lovely nose of spicy red fruits, incense, cinnamon, and cherry blossom. Savory, ripe, and smooth textured, it has the balance and structure to evolve for another 2-3 years. Drink it from 2012 to 2020.
2008 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Displays a lovely bouquet of balsam wood, rose petal, smoke, incense, and a predominance of red fruits. On the palate it is a bit more chunky and savory than the preceding cuvees while displaying excellent volume and balance. It will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring but can be approached now.
2008 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: Has a super-expressive nose of smoke, spice, mineral, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. This leads to a medium-bodied, stuffed wine containing layers of ripe fruit, outstanding volume, vibrant acidity, and a lengthy, velvety finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years of additional bottle age and will offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2020.
2008 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: Medium ruby in color with an expressive nose of spicy red fruits and considerable terroir character. On the palate the fruit leans to the dark side of the spectrum with intense black cherry and black raspberry flavors as well as excellent grip, balance, and length. This tasty effort can be enjoyed now but has the stuffing to evolve for 2-3 years.

	WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER March 24, 2010
	2007 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: "Polished and round, with a spicy edge to the pear and cream flavors, lingering on the well-buffed finish. Drink now through 2013."
	2006 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Dense and rich. The nose exhibits pain grille, mineral, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a layered, savory, spicy, dark-fruited wine with exceptional depth and a pure finish. Give it 3-4 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2012 to 2024."

RESTAURANT TOP 50
Domaine Serene is the #22 most popular Restaurant brand in the country and the #2 brand from Oregon!

BY THE GLASS
Domaine Serene “Yamhill Cuvée” is the TOP RANKING Oregon wine by the glass! (17th Overall) and the 3rd most popular Pinot Noir by the glass.

PINOT NOIR
Domaine Serene is the TOP RANKING Oregon Pinot Noir in the country! (2nd Overall)

JOIN US ON MAY 11th in NYC for the TOP OF THE LIST TASTING. DETAILS HERE

	WINE SPECTATOR "OREGON'S TOP PINOT NOIRS" February 28, 2010
	2006 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Ripe, vivid and generous with its creamy raspberry, mulberry and red cherry flavors, shaded with nutmeg and crème brûlée character as the finish rolls on with expressiveness and real refinement. Drink now through 2016.”
	2006 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: "Lithe and inviting, a supple style of Chardonnay that sports toasty pear, melon and nutmeg aromas and flavors, hovering gently as the finish sails on. Drink now through 2013."
	2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: “Smooth and round, with a lovely polished feel to the dark berry, cherry, licorice and spice flavors, flowing easily over finely tuned tannins, persisting expressively. Drink now through 2016.”

	2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Reviewed At The Blog Wine Cellar
	"I truly believe that only in Oregon's Willamette valley can you find this kind of wine. It's perfectly balanced wine with sharp acidity, the purest of fruit flavors, and a seamless tannin structure. Amazing Stuff!!!" - Thomas Klafke, The Blog Wine Cellar - READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW HERE


	A Wine for Giving Thanks - American Pinot Noir's Elegant Earthiness Makes it a Prime Choice for Thanksgiving Dinner By DOROTHY J. GAITER AND JOHN BRECHER - TASTINGS - NOV 14, 2009
	“The 2006 Evenstad Reserve has beautiful color, with a rich, sensuous nose. The taste is almost majestic, very serious, with minerals, earth and great Pinot fruit.”

Great Reviews from JancisRobinson.com
24 Feb 2010 by Julia Harding MW

2007 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: 17/20 Straightforward, nicely made, red fruit, fine grained, savoury finish. Good depth, light grip on the finish. Drink 2010-2013 (JH)

2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: 17.5/20 Low-key nose. Dry, fresh and scented wth red fruit on the mid palate. Direct, tense. Long. Drink 2010-2016 (JH)

2006 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: 17.5/20 Rich, sweet, autumnal. Grainy but rounded. Well structured. More to come on this one. Drink 2011-2017 (JH)

2006 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: 17.5/20 Spiced, rich, focused yet harmonious. Pure berry fruit. Lovely firm but scented palate, beautifully balanced and long. Drink 2010-2018 (JH)

2006 "Evanstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: This is incredibly good. Beautifully pure, elegant nose with beguilingly complex cherry fruit and fine spiciness. The palate is concentrated yet elegant with sweet ripe cherry and spice notes. Just so smooth and refined, a really serious effort. 95/100

From Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate Domaine Serene’s first vintage was 1990, so the upcoming harvest will be their 20th. Consistent high quality has been a benchmark of the winery and the 2007s will do nothing to change that. Ken and Grace Evenstad were kind enough to show me their first two vintages of Domaine Serene Pinot Noir, 1990 and 1991. Both wines were made by Ken Wright. Both have reached their peak, the 1991 a bit more advanced than the 1990, but they are both beautiful for current drinking. They are just two more examples of how well-made Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from strong vintages can drink well for 20+ years. - Dr. Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate
	2007 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: My personal favorite of the collection (and the winery’s as well, based on price) is the 2007 Pinot Noir Grace Vineyard. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a beautifully complex aromatic array of pain grille, sage, thyme, incense, rose petal, raspberry, and cherry. It has the most depth, structure, and concentration of these wines, succulent fruit, impeccable balance, and a 60-second finish. It is a candidate for wine of the vintage in 2007.
	2007 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: The 2007 Pinot Noir Mark Bradford is darker in color than the preceding wines. Expressive aromatically, it offers up toasty oak, Asian spices, floral notes, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. Dense, structured, savory, and splendidly balanced, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2022.
2007 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: The 2007 Pinot Noir Jerusalem Hill takes it up a notch. It exhibits a captivating nose of pain grille, damp earth, cinnamon, incense, wild cherry, and raspberry. Structured, balanced, and pure in the finish, it will evolve for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2019.
2007 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: The 2007 Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve is more substantial with an alluring bouquet of toast, spice box, mineral, earth notes, raspberry, and cherry. Mouth-coating on the palate, it has layered savory fruit, ripe tannin, lively acidity, outstanding concentration, and a lengthy, pure finish. Give it 1-2 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2011 to 2019.
2007 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: The dark ruby-colored 2007 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee offers up a superb bouquet of smoke, cinnamon, rose petal, cherry, and cranberry. Spicy, expressive, and medium-bodied on the palate, it displays a racy personality marked by savory flavor, vibrant acidity, good depth, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink this tasty effort through 2017.

WINE OF THE WEEK
From the Article "Evenstad's Celebrate" by Bill Ward

Domaine Serene "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir 2006: "Everything you want in an Oregon pinot noir is here: layer upon layer of fruit and spice, a touch of earthiness, just-right acidity, depth and complexity. The smooth finish lasts well past the time you're ready for another sip. The 2005, still found sporadically in these parts, is a beauty, too. This is among the New World's most age-worthy pinots. At separate dinners last week, the 1997 and 2000 vintages were lively, elegant and delicious, drawing universal raves." - Bill Ward, Minneapolis Star Tribune


	Pure Elegance in a Glass! 2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: "Pure elegance in a glass! Aromatic and silky - bright fresh raspberry and sweet cherry fruits - long finish - balanced tannin - a treat to enjoy." - 5 STARS - 94 POINTS - - Cheers, Sept 09

From Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

	2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Winery Hill Vineyard: The 2006 Pinot Noir Winery Hill Vineyard is sourced from Dijon clones planted in 2000 and 2001. It was fermented with 3.5% stems for additional spiciness. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a spicy, cigar box perfume along with expressive blue and black fruits. On the palate it is quite dense and weighty with layers of savory dark fruit flavors bordering on opulence. This rich wine has a finish lasting for nearly a minute. Drink it from 2012 to 2020.
	2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Mark Bradford Vineyard: The 2006 Pinot Noir Mark Bradford Vineyard is the densest and richest of these wines. The nose exhibits pain grille, mineral, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a layered, savory, spicy, dark-fruited wine with exceptional depth and a pure finish. Give it 3-4 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2012 to 2024.

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Grace Vineyard: The 2006 Pinot Noir Grace Vineyard is medium/dark ruby with spicy cherry and raspberry aromas, complex flavors, and a sense of elegance. This nicely balanced wine has excellent depth, concentration, and length with enough structure to evolve for 3-4 years. Drink it from 2010 to 2020.

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Jerusalem Hill Vineyard: The 2006 Pinot Noir Jerusalem Hill Vineyard is dark ruby-colored with aromas of damp earth, mineral, blueberry, and black cherry. Dense but not as complex as the Winery Hill cuvee, this full-bodied Pinot can be enjoyed from 2010 to 2018.

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve: The 2006 Evenstad Reserve is a blend of over 70 lots. Medium ruby-colored, it offers notes of cedar, cinnamon, clove, cassis, and raspberry. This is followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with layers of complex red fruits, enough structure to evolve for 3-4 years, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a lengthy finish. Drink it from 2010 to 2018. Domaine Serene has turned out its most successful set of Pinot Noirs in several vintages.

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Gold Eagle Vineyard: The 2006 Pinot Noir Gold Eagle Reserve is sold only at the winery. Dark ruby-colored, it offers aromatic complexity with lots of spice, violets and a touch of minerality. On the palate, blue fruit notes emerge as well as enough silky tannin to permit 2-3 years of further evolution. This full-flavored, lengthy wine will be at its best from 2010 to 2018.

2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee: The entry level 2006 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee delivers an expressive nose of rose petal, red cherry and raspberry that leaps from the glass. This leads to a velvety-textured, medium-bodied Pinot with ample sweet fruit, good depth, and a fruit-filled finish. It lacks only complexity. Drink this pleasurable wine over the next 4-5 years.

	WINE SPECTATOR
	2006 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Ripe, vivid and generous with its creamy raspberry, mulberry and red cherry flavors, shaded with nutmeg and crème brûlée character as the finish rolls on with expressiveness and real refinement. Drink now through 2016.” (from the HOT WINES section - "These are the most exciting discoveries from our editors’ most recent tastings.")
	2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: “Smooth and round, with a lovely polished feel to the dark berry, cherry, licorice and spice flavors, flowing easily over finely tuned tannins, persisting expressively. Drink now through 2016.”
	2006 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Bright and focused, this is juicy with black cherry and raspberry fruit, hinting at tobacco as the finish rolls on nicely against polished tannins. Drink now through 2015."
	2006 "Winery Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: “Lithe, elegant and refined, with a nice transparency to the currant and blueberry flavors and spicy, toasty overtones, all sailing easily over polished tannins on the focused finish. Best from 2010 through 2016."
	2006 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: “Supple, ripe and generous with its plum, blueberry and crème brûlée flavors, nicely draped with refined tannins, which persist on the focused finish. Drink now through 2014.”

	WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER February 11, 2009
	2006 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: "Lithe and inviting, a supple style of Chardonnay that sports toasty pear, melon and nutmeg aromas and flavors, hovering gently as the finish sails on. Drink now through 2013."
	2006 "Côte Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: "Polished, creamy and nicely focused to show its pear, apple and hazelnut flavors, mingling easily against fine acidity on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2012."

	WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER April 8, 2009
	2006 "Rockblock Reserve"Syrah: "Dense, smooth and generous, this is beautifully focused to show its floral-accented blackberry, currant and plum fruit, which lingers on the well-stuffed finish. Not heavy, but packed with flavor. Needs cellaring. Best from 2011 through 2016"

Wine & Spirits Magazine

In the 20th Annual Wine & Spirtis Magazine Restaurant poll Domaine Serene "Evenstad Reserve" and "Yamhill Cuvée" pinot noirs were named among the most popular Restaurant Poll Wines.

	Year's Best Pinot Noir Wine & Spirits Magazine, April 2009
	2006 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: This rich pinot leads with aromas of plum and black cherry as well as a dark oak imprint. The wine's components fall seamlessly into place, red plum and black cherry flavors with a bottom note of mocha spice. The texture is silky and fine.
	2006 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: Serene's flagship reserve is forward and ripe, the red berry and woodsy scents marked by oak. Yet the wine retains a pleasant lift, the black cherry flavors brightening with air and the acidity fresh and clean.