2023 Drouhin Oregon RoseRock Pinot Noir |

Thanksgiving is a very Pinot Noir-forward holiday for me, and between family, friends, & work versions of holiday dinners this year, I've enjoyed four different bottlings around the $40 range – two Burgundy, two Oregon. My house Pinot Noir is the Cristom Mt Jefferson, but for this year's Friendsgiving hosting, I changed it up to the Drouhin RoseRock – from the Eola Amity Hills, a cooler region than the Dundee Drouhin I'm used to. (To note – I’m sure Drouhin needs no introduction!) Stored at 55, popped and poured – although my notes are from later in the evening, after the meal and once the bottle had received a fair bit of air.

Visually, a medium ruby leaning magenta on the edge.

On the nose, plenty of baking spice at the rim – cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla – quickly joined by powerful, powerful fruit further into the glass – ripe cherries fresh off the tree, raspberries right off the shrub. Deeper into the glass, tea leaves and potpourri as it warms, with a bit of limerock.

On the palate, this one's a crowd pleaser. I could see the words fresh/smooth/gentle readily bandied about for it. Medium-bodied, playful tannins (note what I said above about having received plenty of air by the time I made these notes), bone dry, but with a wonderful pow of acidity – not quite searing, but just below that. The alcohol is notable as it warms, checking in at ~14%. Flavors of cherries and baked pastries, with a decent finish.

This has the components of a fantastic meal wine. With the hustle/bustle of hosting, I didn't get a chance to enjoy it with the meal (settled for SLWC Karia chardonnay instead), but I'm saving a bottle for Christmas. To say nothing of the structure, that acidity will have this going for a decade, easily. By my last glass, the oak aging notes were becoming more pronounced, and it felt as if I could analyze the scents indefinitely! Wonderful Oregon Pinot from Drouhin.