From: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Blend: Pinot Noir
Grace and Ken Evenstad first arrived and settled in the Dundee Hills in the Willamette Valley in 1989. At that time, the couple had spent over 20 years together in Minnesota building a successful business, a loving family, and a deep appreciation for the wines of Burgundy. The Evenstads had faith in Oregon early on, before there was a national market for domestic Pinot Noir. When the time came to pursue their longtime dream of growing and producing world-class Pinot Noir, they invested in a 42-acre hilltop estate that had just been logged in the beautiful Dundee Hills AVA. With the support of their family - and to the surprise of many of their friends in Minnesota – the Evenstads established Domaine Serene, effectively creating Oregon’s luxury wine industry. They named the winery after their daughter, Serene, and their first estate vineyard was named after their son, Mark Bradford Evenstad. In 2001, the Evenstads completed construction of their current state-of-the-art, five-level, gravity flow Pinot Noir winery.
Tasting Notes: Fresh and vibrant, the 2017 ‘Yamhill Cuvée’ introduces itself with a fetching floral nose, intense pure fruit flavors of strawberry, dark cherry, and tart cranberry burst on the palate. A veil of complex notes of mulled spices, forest floor, and brush balance the fruit-driven essence of the wine. The mouthfeel is dense with pure, rich texture and fresh minerality, integrating the structured tannins, leading to a smooth lingering finish.