DOMAINE SERENE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON 2022
WHY BUY: A near-perfect Pinot for under $60? You’ve got to be kidding. This never happens. We had to snap these up for you. The 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards has only affirmed its greatness: 97 points and a Platinum Award, with the judges going so far as to call it "a masterstroke of Pinot Noir making!” Folks, this should have you thinking cases, not bottles: world-class Pinot Noir from the Oregon producer that Wine Spectator hailed a decade ago for crafting the No. 1 Pinot Noir in the world, and for a fraction of the cost of most Burgundy. In addition, we’ve also secured their flagship Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, also from 2022, a 95-point powerhouse that represents everything brilliant about this operation: the balance, the depth, the terroir character, the careful attention to detail.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: The Decanter World Wine Awards judges were downright effusive about the Yamhill Cuvée, awarding 97 points and a Platinum Award and extolling its “supple tannins and texture, with bristling acidity and a lengthy finish." James Suckling was equally impressed with the Evenstad Reserve: "so concentrated, layered and firmly structured,” he wrote, in his 95-point rave, with "fragrant new-oak aromatics and built for long aging." He went on to describe how its "full body and muscular tannins balance lush, posh and ripe red and black fruit flavors that flood the palate and echo in the finish," calling it "complex, powerful and detailed."
OUR TASTING NOTES: The Yamhill Cuvée is the kind of wine that makes you understand why the very best Oregon Pinot has Burgundy producers looking on in admiration. This is pretty close to pure Pinot perfection. There’s a profusion of red cherry and raspberry fruit, but it’s balanced by a vein of bristling acidity, and lurking in the background, unmistakable but subtle, is a note of delicate spice and oak that brings complexity and dimension to the entire experience. Best of all: the smooth, almost satiny texture that compels another sip, another pour, another bottle opened. The Evenstad Reserve takes things up several notches: it’s a wine of layered intensity, built like a tank, with new-oak aromatics that announce serious intentions and the kind of tannins that portend long aging.
THE STORY: When Ken and Grace Evenstad planted their first vines in Oregon's Dundee Hills back in 1989, most people thought they were just starting a winery. In fact, they were launching a full-scale assault on the notion that world-class Pinot Noir could only come from France. The audacity paid off spectacularly: by 2013, Wine Spectator had declared their Evenstad Reserve the #1 Pinot Noir in the world, a commendation that reverberated through Burgundy's hallowed cellars. But the Evenstads weren't content to just conquer Oregon. They marched straight into Burgundy itself, purchasing Château de la Crée and creating a trans-Atlantic wine empire that bridges two of the world's greatest Pinot Noir regions. Today, with over 700 acres across six vineyard estates and a trophy case groaning under the weight of 200+ scores of 95 points or higher, Domaine Serene has proven that American ambition, when married to Old World precision, can produce wines that redefine what's possible.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: Seared duck breast is the obvious choice, and a great one, but the sneaky good match here is with pan-seared salmon with shallot butter — the rich but delicate flavors an ideal foil for the suave earthiness of these Pinots.
FUN FACT: Domaine Serene was named the World's Most Awarded Winery at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards, a significant achievement in an industry dominated by Europe and California.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st - Mar. 20th, 2026). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, MO, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, August 7th, 2025.