There is a welcome (if, in one sense, too large) leap in quality from their basic “classique” bottling and Drouhin’s 2011 Pinot Noir Laurene. High-toned almond and pistachio extracts along with smoky black tea inflect the...
There is a welcome (if, in one sense, too large) leap in quality from their basic “classique” bottling and Drouhin’s 2011 Pinot Noir Laurene. High-toned almond and pistachio extracts along with smoky black tea inflect the lightly cooked and distilled rhubarb, cherry and black raspberry on exhibit on the penetrating nose and silken yet tart-edged palate of this Pinot. There is a smoky barrel attribute and considerable underlying tannin but they are well-integrated and don’t detract from the juicy finishing flow of fruit. Hints of brown spice add stimulation, and I expect this to show even better by the time it is released in another year. It ought to be worth following through at least 2020. - David Schildknecht