Named after Véronique Boss-Drouhin’s elder daughter, Laurène is our flagship wine and is produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on the family’s estate in the Dundee Hills. The fruit is handpicked into small totes, destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then placed into French Oak barrels. Once the vintage is safely in the cellar, Véronique begins the process of selecting barrels which have an extra complexity, length, and depth — barrels which will work together as Laurène.
The 2021 Vintage
Harvest Dates: 9/8/21-10/2/21
While winter temperatures were slightly warmer than average, and drought conditions continued across the west, February was defined by an ice-storm unlike anything seen in the Willamette Valley for 40 years.The growing season started out relatively cool but continued dry. The Willamette Valley saw mild to moderate early to mid-April frosts, followed by an early season heat event at the start of May. At the end of June, we experienced the warmest days ever recorded in the Valley, and yet the vines remained healthy and resilient.At the end of this dramatic growing season, the vines delivered grapes with complex flavors, incredible balance, and layers of elegance. As winemakers and grape growers, we couldn’t have asked for a better gift from the vineyard.
Véronique’s Tasting Notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir Laurène upholds the cuvée’s 30-year tradition of excellence, elegance, expressiveness and ageability. The energetic nose reveals notes of baked Rainier cherry and candied orange peel, with subtle sage and wild herb undertones. On the palate, blueberry notes intertwine with baking spice and anise, offering a complex and layered experience. In your glass or in your cellar, the 2021 Laurène is a pure reflection of vintage, place and people. Enjoy!
96, International Wine Report | 95, James Suckling