SORRY, THIS ITEM IS NOW SOLD OUT
We recently secured a rare parcel of 1994 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir from a reputable distributor who represents some of Oregon’s finest producers. These bottles have been professionally cellared for over two decades. Last month, we had the rare opportunity to taste through a lineup of well-aged, single-site Pinots from Eola-Amity Hills, Dundee Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton. It was the 1994 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve that we kept returning to. Its vitality, depth, and seamless evolution make it not just a survivor of time but a benchmark for what Oregon Pinot Noir can achieve with patience and perfect storage.
The Evenstad Reserve is globally recognized as one of Oregon’s benchmark Pinot Noirs, long admired for marrying power and polish in equal measure. First produced in 1990, it’s drawn from their estate vineyard that sits at a 250 meter elevation within the Dundee Hills AVA and vines dig deep into iron-rich Jory volcanic basalt soils. The 1994 vintage was a moderately warm and low-yielding year, producing a wine of supreme concentration and layers of earth-driven textures and complexity. Still, ever present aromas of cranberry, red cherry, guava, black tea, and forest floor give way to flavors of red raspberry, orange rind, and black truffle, framed by firm, vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins. Aged about 15 months in 50% new French oak, the 1994 Reserve remains a testament to Domaine Serene’s early precision—a Burgundian-styled, minerally Pinot Noir built for decades of graceful evolution.
This professionally cellared library bottling is offered at a price that comes in far below the market price, if you can even still find it. Provenance is guaranteed, and quantities are extremely limited. For serious collectors, sommeliers, or anyone who understands the quiet power of a wine that’s aged with grace and intention, this is a rare opportunity to own a true Oregon classic.
Within 10 to 15 minutes in the glass, the wine begins to unfurl with a graceful, evolved bouquet of cranberry, red cherry, guava, dried rose, tea leaf, and leather, layered with forest floor, truffle, and faint orange peel tones. The palate is layered and expressive with red raspberry, dried cherry, and iron-mineral spice. Tannins are beautifully resolved, acidity remains lively, and the finish is long and extremely satisfying, echoing with mushroom, cedar and sous-bois. A savory umami note emerges on the tail end—reminiscent of a finely aged Gran Reserva Rioja—adding a final touch of complexity and grace. This is no cherry pie explosion in the glass, but an amalgam of spice and earth. Seekers of long-aged Barolo, Barbaresco, Red Burgundy, and Gran Reserva Rioja need to hop on board.
Recommendation: Use a Durand corkscrew for optimal extraction. If the cork shows signs of crumbling, decant gently through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to preserve clarity and integrity.
Cheers and taste well!
