Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurene 2015

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Laurene is intensely scented of cranberries, wild strawberries and raspberry leaves with nuances of underbrush, wild thyme and yeast extract. Medium-bodied, fine, fresh and tightly wound at this youthful stage, it delivers plenty of depth and expression and the long finish is beautifully framed with a commendable texture.

Thick with ripe black fruits that are streaked with cola, this substantial vintage of the winery's middle-tier bottling also brings notes of toasted hazelnuts. The overall balance is spot-on, with ample acidity lending a suggestion of wet stone as the flavors resolve into the finish. Delicious already but quite ageworthy for a decade at least.