Tasting wines by Véronique Drouhin Boss resembles attending a piano concerto – each pour an elegant opus reverberating with its own inner core of subdued structure and grace.
This is a follow up to the earlier article Tasting Domaine Drouhin Oregon wines, Dundee Hills.
Recently, I was lucky enough to interview the wine maker about her newest project, Roserock Drouhin Oregon, and taste through the wines crafted from this exquisite vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Scion of Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy, Roserock Drouhin Oregon fashions their cuvées from the estate’s 35 LIVE-certified blocks composed of volcanic soils, favorable aspects, and cooler temperatures overseen by her brother, viticulturalist Phillippe Drouhin.
Véronique Drouhin Boss describes the wines of Roserock as “flirting with Gevrey-Chambertin,” a Burgundian Grand Cru favored by Napoleon and renowned for its intense, perfumed flavors.
Her wines raise the bar, and set the standard for Burgundy and Willamette Valley aficionados everywhere.
Roserock Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay 2014
Eola-Amity Hills, OR
Alcohol: 14.1%
Suggested Retail: $35
Robe: Impeccable pale straw robe.
Nose: Bosque pear, lemon flower, slight eau d’evergreen.
Palate: Notes of meyer lemon, with an undercurrent of minerality. Light body, bright acids, lilting finish. Brilliant. Elegant. Age-worthy 3-5 years.
Suggested Pairings: Stuffed sole and brown rice with sautéed shallots, seasonal kale and cèpes.
Roserock Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2014
Eola-Amity Hills, OR.
Alcohol: 14.1 %
Suggested Retail: $35
Robe: Brilliant, deep ruby robe.
Nose: Tea rose, potpourri, cranberry and dark cherry nose.
Palate: Floral, dried fruit, black cherry with a back note of evergreen. Light body, supple tannins, superb structure, effortless balance, lingering finish. Age-worthy 7-10 years.
Suggested Pairings: An elegant wine of discretion mean to enhance, not overpower. Suitable for any meal that allows for ample discourse and delight in an artfully laden table.
LM Archer is a freelance writer based in Seattle and California. She is Francophile who considers wine an art and Burgundy the centre of the universe. She is the founder and editor of binNotes | redThread.
