A good bottle of wine is like a time machine that connects past and future while you enjoy the present.
One of those "time machines" is 2015 Toison d'Or Pinot Noir created by Domaine Divio winery in Willamette Valley of Oregon.
2015 Toison d'Or Pinot Noir Domaine Divio. Back to Future
The wine with noble ambition from Willamette Valley. Can it stand the test of time?
What's in the Name?
It takes its name after the Roman Catholic order of chivalry founded by the Burgundian duke Philip the Good in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabella. Why I hadn't thought of that when I married my princess?! That's one long-lived present.
Two branches of Order of Toison d'Or (Golden Fleece) order still exist to this day and headed by the current grandmasters Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Karl von Habsburg, grandson of Emperor Charles I of Austria. At the inauguration, the knights who are appointed by one of the sovereigns receive one of the 50 original Golden Fleece insignias to keep for life.
Bruno Corneaux, the winemaker of Domaine Divio, chose the picture of the Golden Fleece symbol for the label of his Pinot Noir. I think it's a giveaway that he's on the ambitious quest to create one of the best Pinots in the valley. To make history, Bruno picked the perfect year because 2015 vintage was one of the warmest and most productive on record from Willamette Valley which offered an opportunity to find the perfect fruit. He selected the grapes from two vineyards of Yamhill-Carlton and Chehalem Mountain AVAs known for early ripening. In the tradition of Grand Crus of Bourgogne, the wine was aged in 100% new French oak barriques for 18 months. It is the royal approach in winemaking for sure.
Tasting Notes
Recently we had a chance to taste 2015 Toison d'Or Pinot Noir while celebrating the anniversary of Wineswing Club with local wine connoisseurs and it was a great treat.
Wine greeted us with a vibrant ruby color. The complex and developing nose was revealing more and more as the wine opened up in a glass. It started with ripe raspberry and cherry showing off the ripe fruit of 2015. Then rose and sour cherry followed combine with spicy notes of red peppercorn. Finally, toast and smoke showcased the oak but didn't overtake the fruit.
On the palate, Toison d'Or Pinot Noir has vibrant acidity, substantial tannins, and medium body. Flavors of sour cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and rose petals jam create complex fruit profile. Smokey and toasty oak notes come through just enough to add complexity.
The finish lingers to let you enjoy a sophisticated yet developing profile of this wine. This Pinot Noir has all the indicators of wine of capable of aging and improving over time. Bruno said that this wine could age well for over twenty years.
Who knows? Maybe we were tasting one of the greatest wines of the future. At some point, Romanée-Conti was just another good wine among its peers before becoming an exceptional one. Does Domaine Divio Pinot Noir has the same fate? Only future will tell. Meanwhile, you can get a liquid "time capsule" with Toison d'Or label on it and see the future for yourself.
