WTN: Not my Rock

[Jenise]

2014 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir 'Zephirine' Eola - Amity Hills
Pretty full-bodied for an American pinot, and pretty sweet for a Domaine Drouhin product. Big black and blue fruit with notes of star anise and incense that gained in complexity, adding a little fresh spruce. Relaxed, velour-like finish aided by oak. As sweet on the nose as on the palate. No idea what the purpose of the brand is but wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was an attempt at an ultra-American premium style ($57 retail) for the cab drinker who doesn't go for the red fruit and earth of Burgundian pinot noirs. Interesting to drink but not to my tastes.

[David M. Bueker]

That is disappointing. I would not expect that fruit sweetness from a Drouhin wine, even from Oregon.

[Jenise]

would not expect that fruit sweetness from a Drouhin wine

Me neither. And we can't blame it on the vintage.

I've never been fully convinced by the Roserock wines, even though I'm a big fan of the Eola Hills region and of Domaine Drouhin. Bethel Heights, Christom and Evesham Wood are some of my favourite OR wineries, all in the Eola Hills region. The Dundee Hills wines from Drouhin are always superior to my tastes, with the Laurene being a relatively reasonably priced premium OR pinot. Great views from the tasting room/winery too!

[Jenise]

This is my first ever. Did I get it right, what they're doing? Or is there (ostensibly) no other goal than to establish a different brand for the Eola region products?

I've never noticed any overt sweetness to any of the Roserock bottlings, just an impression that they didn't quite match the quality of the Dundee Hills versions of their chardonnays and pinots. But yes, the Roserock property was bought about 5-6 years ago I think, to allow them to increase production via a completely different vineyard source/AVA.