“French soul, Oregon soil” is a motto of Domaine Drouhin winery since their first vintage over 30 years ago in Willamette Valley of Oregon. You can sense it in every wine they make.
Véronique Drouhin the winemaker, and her brother Philippe viticulturist keep making wines that reflect Willamette Valley terroir and their Burgundian upbringing. We fell in love with their wines over 15 years ago and being drinking them ever since. We often taste their wines right after release and cellar some to give it a second opinion later. 2015 Arthur Chardonnay is one of those bottles that we kept for two years because we wanted to check how it will change with age. We were happy we did.
Many wineries produce chardonnay in this region, and there are plenty of expensive unremarkable wines. Drouhin’s wine is on a shortlist of our favorite chardonnays and here’s why.
2015 Arthur Chardonnay Domaine Drouhin Tasting Notes
2015 Arthur is an entry-level chardonnay with a refreshing and yet ripe fruit profile reminiscent of above-average wines from Bourgogne.
True to its young age, it has a lemon color with a greenish hue. The aromas are a combination of apple, lemon, wet stone, and beeswax. So if you like French-style wines of this varietal, you will find familiar notes. On the other hand, if buttery and nutty is what you’re looking for, Arthur might disappoint you.
The flavors are in tune with the aromas, and that’s what we’re looking for in a wine. Arthur delivers what it promises on the nose. The flavors of apple and lemon followed by the nectarine and a pleasant bitter note of peach skin.
2015 was a warm vintage, and Arthur Chardonnay feels like a substantial wine showing off ripe grapes. But refreshing acidity keeps fruit in check.
Overall, it’s a well-balanced wine with integrated aromas and flavors that make it enjoyable on its own and as an excellent partner to seafood and vegetarian dishes. We had it with fresh Oregon Dungeness crab, and they make a memorable feast together.
We fell in love with Drouhin’s Pinot Noirs after tasting their 2001 vintage fifteen years ago and we drinking every release ever since. Thanks to Drouhin, we discovered Oregon wines and, possibly, it’s their “fault” that we left New York City for Portland ten years later.