1990 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 

BY KELLI WHITE | JANUARY 3, 2017

A friend recently blind tasted me on a bottle of 1990 Domaine Drouhin (Oregon) Pinot Noir, and while the variety was immediately obvious (always a good sign), the country of origin was not. I would have sworn that the somewhat cloudy, amber-tinged wine in front of me was a warm vintage Burgundy of around 20-25 years. Such is the mastery of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, who’s nuanced, age-worthy wines regularly blur the lines between Old and New World.

The 1990 opened with a heady perfume of sweet pipe tobacco, seaweed, orange blossom and red tea surrounding a core of sweet red cherries. The palate was surprisingly rich and charming, with an earthy undertone and bright, framing acidity. While quite spry at first, time in the glass saw the wine take a briny turn as the lush fruit began to recede. That first hour, however, was magic. Drink now or in the not-too-distant future. 93/Drinking Window: 2016 – 2021.