More Top Tier Pinots From Domaine Divio
Part two of my in-depth tasting of current and soon-to-be released DD wines
Domaine Divio 2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir – Many winemakers source Shea vineyard grapes, few do it as well as Bruno Corneaux. Tight, lightly earthy flavors run through a wide mix of berries – red, blue and black – leading into well-placed phenolic flavors of dried herbs and a thin streak of chocolate. 10/23 club release. 125 cases; 13.9%; $70 (Yamhill-Carlton) 94/100
Domaine Divio 2021 Prince Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir – Originally planted by Dick Erath in 1982, this is from an '89 block. This is a sweet, fruity wine with blackberry jam flavors. Delicious, layered, detailed, a spectacular wine with instant appeal and long term potential. Brown spices, cut tobacco, a lot up front but I think this has legs to age. Just released this spring. 200 cases; 13.7%; $65 (Dundee Hills) 95/100
Domaine Divio 2021 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir – Dip your nose into this wine and it will seduce you. Floral top notes and sweet cherry blossoms await, It's a dense, saturated, deeply flavored wine, bursting with black cherry fruit and details of ground coffee and baking spices. The density and detail mark this as exceptional, ageworthy, and demanding your attention. Flavors dive deep and long, but for such a young wine you must decant it. Stay tuned for a Deep Dive into this remarkable vineyard. Fall '23 release. 200 cases; 13.7%; $65 (McMinnville) 96/100
Domaine Divio 2021 Louis Estate Pinot Noir – Rich, lush black fruits, coffee, mocha, dense and chewy. This is a big, textural wine, more power and texture than most Pinot. Named for Bruno’s son who is currently studying in Dijon. 125 cases; 13.7%; $65 (Ribbon Ridge)
Domaine Divio 2021 Legacy of the Pioneers Estate Pinot Noir – This estate bottling leans into the red fruits, with a lightly funky note – a touch of chicken yard shall we say. Its earthy component adds texture to the fading finish, though honestly if you're looking for fruit purity the Clos Gallia is the better option. Not that this isn't immensely enjoyable – it certainly is. 11/23 release. 13.7%; $75 (Ribbon Ridge) 92/100
Domaine Divio 2021 Toison d'Or Pinot Noir – This wine gets a unique black label. The name translates to Golden Fleece and recalls an order of Knights in Burgundy during the Middle Ages. It opens slowly, with pretty barrel flavors bringing sandalwood, caramel and chocolate front and center. Strawberry and raspberry pastry flavors solidify the core. Among such a bountiful portfolio of exceptional Pinots, this fits perfectly but needs extra breathing time. 13.9%; $110 (Ribbon Ridge) 92/100
Domaine Divio 2021 Clos Gallia Estate Pinot Noir – With each new vintage the Clos Gallia wines gain in both strength and complexity. Here lush aromas mingle berries, bramble and herbs de Provence; on the palate the wine saturates and satisfies with a mix of blue and purple fruits. It's moderately compact, though approachable, and responds well to aeration. It hits all the highlights in the mid-palate, with good concentration and power, then gracefully trails out the extended finish adding touches of graphite and lightly charred wood. Slated for a Bastille Day (7/14) release. 300 cases; 13.8%; $65 (Ribbon Ridge) 94/100
I was so impressed with these latest releases that I took a look back at this wine from one of the early releases. When first reviewed I knew very little about the winery. I just knew I was tasting something exceptional. Here is my current assessment with my original review just below.
Domaine Divio 2015 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – A look back at an early iteration of Domaine Divio, right after the estate vineyard was planted but not yet bearing. This is aging gracefully, moving into smooth, secondary fruit flavors of cherry pie, brioche and sandalwood. Not a big wine, but truly lovely, it's the flawless expression of Oregon meets Burgundy, as Bruno Corneaux has demonstrated over and over through the subsequent vintages. Still lovely on the second day! 93/100
My original review (published in Wine Enthusiast six years ago). I did not look at this until after I’d written the updated review above.
Domaine Divio 2015 Pinot Noir – Smooth as silk and soft as butter, this glides across the palate smoky, sexy and seductive. Butter and berry, black cherry and a finishing flourish of chocolate nibs, capped with espresso, give this a complete start to finish set of flavors. Drink now and over the next decade. Editors’ Choice. 100 cases; 13.7%; $48 93/100