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| Northwest Palate - May/June 2008 |
| 2005 "Jerusalem Hill" Vineyard Pinot Noir - "Taut aromas of dried herbs and cherry fruit lend a lightly piquant quality to the intriguing nose. Big black cherry and black raspberry flavors spread evenly across the palate, with ancillary notes of barrel spice and cocoa powder. Supple and juicy, with fine-grained tannins for definition, this is a Pinot to drink with grilled rack of lamb, or cellar up to three years for more elegance." |
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| Women's Health - Spring 2008 |
| 2005 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir - "This silky Oregon pinot is loaded with bright red-cherry flavor and lively acidity" |
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The Chronicle Wine Selections
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| Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS - 2005 "Etoile Vineyard" Chardonnay: Winemake Tony Rynders has made a Chardonnay aged 16 months sur lie in used French oak barrels. The wine has a rich, spicy nose layered with ripe pear, green apple, lemon and vanilla underpinnings. The aromas are reinforced with fresh, tart flavors of apple, lemon and touch of citron, while ending with palate-cleansing acidity and a finely structured, minerally finish. |
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Morrell
"100 Best Wines & Spirits of the Year" |
| 2004 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: "Our best selling Pinot Noir for the 4th year in a row! Domaine Serene, led by owners Ken and Grace Evenstad and winemaker Tony Rynders, consistently turn out absolutely stunning wine that is very reflective of the Oregon style. Beautiful aromas of dark cherry, red raspberry, pipe tobacco, milk chocolate, pomegranate and earth. The palate is rich and supple, showing black raspberry, cherry pie, black currant, rose, violet and oak spice with a persistent and seamless finish." |
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April 2008 Issue
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| "Year's Best Pinot Noir" |
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2004 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir
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2004 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir
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2004 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir
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2004 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir
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| From Northwest Palate Magazine - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue |
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PICK OF THE PALATE: "There have been white Pinot Noirs in the Northwest before. But to be absolutely accurate, there’s never been a white Pinot Noir in America like this one. Sure, various pale-pniky, so-called “white” Pinots have been made over the years, mostly resulting in a blasé rosé that seemed to have no point besides oddity. Those wines are to Domaine Serene’s Coeur Blanc what wine coolers are to Bordeaux. This is the real deal: a serious, dry wine, made meticulously as a white wine, but from red Pinot Noir grapes.
The color is light crystalline amber. The aromas area shifting blend of fig, apricot, and pear skin, with a creamy quality and almost a tincture of caramel. In the mouth, the wine has a sturdy consistency that carries complex flavors of strawberry, ripe apricot, a touch of lemon curd, and suggestions of lemon crème brulée. Sufficient acidity enlivens the wine, and the candied fruit finish is pleasing. The Coeur Blanc stands on its own as an excellent Oregon Pinot Noir – that happens to be white." – Cole Danehower
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December 12, 2007 |
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2004 "Mark Bradford Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Supple and generous, with ripe currant and blackberry flavors that persist into the long, nicely focused, smooth-textured finish. The tannins are nicely submerged. This has miles to go before it shows all it has. Best from 2009 through 2014." - H.S. |
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2005 "Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: "Supple and distinctive for its cinnamon- and clove-scented cherry and blackberry flavors, riding smoothly on a layer of superfine tannins. This comes together suavely on the lingering, enticing finish. Drink now through 2015." - H.S. |
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| From The Wine Spectator |
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2005 Rockblock "SoNo" Syrah: "Soft, plush and generous with its coffee-accented plum, berry and exotic spice flavors, built to entice with well-integrated tannins, and long enough on the finish to warrant cellaring. Drink now through 2013." - H.S. |
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2005 "Clos du Soleil" Chardonnay: "Bright in flavor and refined in structure, balancing its refreshing pear, applae and citrus flavors against hints of spice and toasted bread without losing its juciness and finesse. Drink now through 2010." - H.S. |
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2005 "Cote Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: "Polished, round and generous, with classic spicy pear flavorsand hints of butter and cashew. Has finesse and impeccable balance, and it's not at all heavy. Drink now through 2010." - H.S. |
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2004 Rockblock "Del Rio Vineyard" Syrah: "Rich in texture, with lots of ultraripe plum, prune and Asian spice aromas and flavors that ride smoothly over polished tannins. The finish lingers well. Drink now through 2012." - H.S. |
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TOP 100 WINES OF 2007 |
2004 Domaine Serene Cote Sud Vineyard Dijon Clones Willamette Valley Chardonnay: " From one of seven vineyards on the winery's Jory soils in the southern Dundee Hills, this shows off the best of Oregon Chardonnay from a cooler vintage. A warm nose of coconut, rich oak, cream pie and baked apple tangles with intense, volcanic minerality that cuts through a lees-driven style. Opulent, yes, but always with a dose of restraint and an exquisite texture.” - Jon Bonné with Lynne Char Bennett, Sunday, December 2, 2007
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What to drink at Thanksgiving? An Oregon pinot noir.
By Mike Steinberger, wine columnist, Slate Magazine |
2005"Yamhill Cuvée" Pinot Noir: "In addition to having a fitting name for Thanksgiving, the 2005 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir sports one of those utterly seductive bouquets that instantly brings a peculiar but evocative image to mind—in this case, wild strawberries on a bed of rose petals. The berries carry over to the palate, which is also marked by good acidity and sturdy tannins. - Slate Magazine, November 14, 2007 |
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| From Wine Spectator Online - October 12, 2007 |
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2005 "Fleur de Lis Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Supple, silky and generous with its plum and currant fruit, letting it ride easily over an open texture with well-submerged tannins. Lingers beautifully and enticingly. Drink now through 2013." - H.S. |
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2005 "Gold Eagle Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Supple and open-textured, with real clarity to the red cherry, red plum and exotic spice flavors, lingering harmoniously on the finely balanced finish. A wine of depth and real finesse. Drink now through 2015." - H.S. |
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| From eRobertParker.com |
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2004 "Grace Vineyard" Pinot Noir: "Dark ruby-colored. It offers a lovely bouquet of pain grille, cassis, and raspberry followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with a supple texture and good depth in a fruit-forward style. Drink this tasty wine over the next 5-7 years." |
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2004 Rockblock "Seven Hills Vineyard" Syrah: "Purple-colored, it offers a nose of smoked meat, game, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to a full-bodied, spicy, layered wine with nicely concealed tannin. It will evolve for 3-4 years and drink well through 2020." |
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2004 Rockblock "Del Rio Vineyard" Syrah: "Purple-colored wine with a spicy, blueberry perfume, ripe, forward flavors and excellent length. It can be enjoyed now but will fill out with 2-3 years of additional cellaring." |
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 From the Wine & Spirits Magazine 2007 Buying Guide
Domaine Serene
Estate Winery of the Year 2007
"Domaine Serene always seems to end up on top in these pages; they are consistent no matter what the weather. Great American Pinot houses like William Selyem, Dutton-Goldfield, Gary Farrell and Flowers – names also commonly found among our Wineries of the Year – all have a consistency in their wines that defy vintage variation. Domaine Serene certainly deserves to be in this company, and it does so by placing its imprimatur on very particular Willamette Valley terroirs. This year’s Yamhill Cuvée- (94 Points, 100 Best Wines of 2007 and 100 Best Buys of 2007) is simply gorgeous. It is textbook Serene." – Patrick J. Comiskey |
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| From Cheers Magazine "Preferred Pinots" Article - September 2007 |
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Five Stars out of Five
2004 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: "Perfectly balanced with blackberry and red cherry flavors; brown spice notes persist in the wine's elegant finish."
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| From the Wine Spectator - September 30 , 2007 |
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2004 Rockblock "Seven Hills Vineyard" Syrah: "Supple, velvety and appealing for its plum cream and spice flavors, riding on a layer of fine tannins. The finish lingers impressively. Drink now through 2014." - H.S. |
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Domaine Serene featured in the Calgary Herald article “Oregon Pinot Comes of Age” by Geoff Last |
“I highly recommend a visit to Domaine Serene, located just outside of the town of Lafayette. It’s one of the most spectacular wineries I’ve ever seen and its wines are among the very best Oregon has to offer.” |
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| DECANTER MAGAZINE - November 2007 |
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2004 Rockblock "Del Rio Vineyard" Syrah
DECANTER AWARD
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2004 Rockblock "Seven Hills Vineyard" Syrah
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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FROM VINFOLIO, ISSUE 109 JUNE 22, 2007
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2004 "Jerusalem Hill Vineyard" Pinot Noir: Pure exotica - supple and concentrated in the nose showing licorice, violet pastille and rose. The enormous palate is difficult to describe as there is just so much going on. This wine needs three years to show its full potential. - Doug Wilder |
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2004 "Evenstad Reserve" Pinot Noir: A nose full of rich butterscotch, cherry and cola aromas. The palate is dramatically formed with beautifully shaped tannins that undulate around the core of pliable cherry, cola, anise and herb. - Doug Wilder |
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2004 "Cote Sud Vineyard" Chardonnay: In the hands of Tony Rynders, who took over from Ken Wright in the 1998 vintage, Serene continues to shine with a long string of excellent wines. A salty, citrus nose with some creamy undertones. On the palate the defining quality here is texture that conveys the subtly elegant, toast-kissed lemon, key lime, licorice and mineral flavors. - Doug Wilder
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| VINTRUST WINE MANAGEMENT |
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2004 "Evenstad Reserve"
Pinot Noir
96 POINTS
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| 2007 WORLD WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS |
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2004 Rockblock "SoNo" Syrah
SILVER MEDAL
"Highly Recommended"
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OUTSTANDING!
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2004 "Jerusalem Hill" Pinot Noir: Here is one of the state's top wines from a searing season. Alluring aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, raspberries and shavings of bittersweet chocolate yield to flavors of more rich berries and red currants. The superb balance crafted by Tony Rynders - in just the third vintage from this Eola Hills site - shows with well-managed oak and whispering tannins as a creamy midpalate finishes with more bittersweet chocolate. - Wine Press Northwest, Summer 2007 |
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