Willamette Valley Magic: 2021 Colene Clemens 'Dopp Creek' Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley Magic: 2021 Colene Clemens 'Dopp Creek' Pinot Noir

Another vintage of Colene Clemens' Dopp Creek Pinot Noir, another 94 point rating from Wine Spectator. With Thanksgiving just a month away, this would be a prime candidate to enjoy with the holiday feast!

Is this the best vintage they've ever produced? I think you could make a strong case for that. A wine that combines seamless texture with deep and rich flavors, it's the 7th vintage in a row that Wine Spectator has rated this 91 points or better. 

We sold through our first 14 cases in less than 48 hours, and I didn't think we'd see any more. Good news, some NC accounts dragged their feet picking up their allocations, and I happily took that "burden" :) off their hands....

2018 Colene Clemens Dopp Creek Pinot Noir

2021 Colene Clemens 'Dopp Creek' Pinot Noir 

94 points Wine Spectator  

ORDER NOW in our online store. 

Let's face it, good Oregon Pinot Noir isn't cheap, and when it is, it isn't good. To be able to get truly world-class, 94 point-rated Willamette Valley Pinot Noir usually requires an expenditure of $50+. Also worth noting, Colene Clemens' winemaker Steve Goff is one of the state's top winemakers -- prior to his stint here, he was the Assistant Winemaker at Beaux Freres.

Vintage 2021 is a return to excellence in the Willamette Valley after the smoke-tainted 2020 vintage. A hot summer and a cooler fall led to Pinot Noirs with nicely developed, ripe aromas and flavors buttressed by uplifting acidity. Balance is the name of the game here, and this wine has got it!

Boasting a deep color and wonderful aromas of red and dark berries, Asian spices, savory herbs, and earth, this has good body and assertive flavors on the palate. Quite concentrated, especially for a Pinot Noir, this maintains elegance and restraint effortlessly, just like it always does.

That’s why every vintage of this wine going back to 2014 has scored 91+ points with Wine Spectator. Here's what they had to say about the 2021 Dopp Creek Pinot Noir. "This expressive red is dynamic, yet retains a sense of elegance and refinement, showing pomegranate and blueberry flavors underscored by river stone and dusky spice accents. Builds tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2032. 4,888 cases made."

Let me wrap it up. Top-flight Willamette Pinot, impeccable track record, great price. I said it once, but I'll say it again -- I bought the entire allocation for Western North Carolina. Once those 14 cases are gone, there's no more to be had. 

ORDER NOW in our online store. 

Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville