The 100% Pinot Noir for the 1992 Domaine Drouhin from Dundee, Oregon has 13.5% alcohol and scored 19 (Gold) points on the Dionysian scale of 20.
It’s filled with cherry, subtle French oak and raspberry aromas. It is smooth as silk with a long, clean finish. The 23 years of aging allowed this great French producer to make an American wine in the old world style. They were $16 back then, but now cost near $50.
I use to get a few of these every year, but for some unknown reason, I stopped about 10 years ago. Learn from my mistake; build some vertical collections of your favorite big reds and serve it with salmon, or with the steel-head trout caught in the wild as I did.
Pino Noir paired with the steel-head trout, glazed with shallots, chives that were sautéed in butter, green & yellow garden fresh string beans, baked potato with a dab of whole butter, and a few pear and cherry tomatoes.
The wine was still ruby with hints of orange on its edge showing that it’s ready, but still has another five years to reach perfection. In vino veritas.
The 1992 Oregon Pinot Noir, at 23 years old, still has time to age.
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