Colene Clemens Dopp Creek Pinot Noir 2022

Bright and welcoming up front, '22 Dopp pours forth with luscious red fruits, especially things that makes us crave summer: sun-ripened raspberries and big juicy cherries. Accents of warm spices, thyme, and dark chocolate-covered orange round out the medley. As is classic Dopp Creek, it's raring to get in your glass but you can also let it rest for a few months or a few years if that's your preference.

2021 vintage notes

94 points Wine Spectator: "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."

The 2021 wines show good concentration and power with a surprising amount of restraint and elegance given the overall warmer nature of the vintage. Despite the heat we were able to achieve a nice level of physiological maturity without being over ripe. These finely balanced wines exhibit a generous fruit character with a sturdy and supple underlying structure. Expect the wines to bring both good near-term accessibility as well as a solid longer term ageability.

2019 vintage notes

93 points Wine Spectator: "Slowly unfurls, opening with taut raspberry and stony mineral, then drawing in a rich and plush texture that glides toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030."

Given its track record the last four vintages, Dopp Creek has firmly established itself as one of the best values in Willamette Valley Pinot noir. As we said last year (and the year before and...) this is a ton of Pinot for the money! The '19 opens with pizazz: lively and fresh aromatics lead to a juicy, fresh initial burst of silky red fruit. What follows is a delicious unfurling of darker fruit and subtle earth tones.

Invariably the question will be asked: how does the 2019 stack up to the 2018? Pretty pretty pretty pretty well!   

2018 vintage notes

94 points Wine Spectator: "Defined by a brisk and refreshing minerality that brings focus to refined and expressive raspberry, rose petal and toasty spice flavors and builds intensity toward fine-grain tannins. Drink now through 2029."

The 2018 is absolutely packed with goodness. Like the other 2018s we've been tasting, this is going to blow the doors off; think blockbuster vintages like 2008 and 2012.

The '18 Dopp shows beautiful, dark boldness and concentration, then a bright streak of Pinot electricity Pinot. I'll bet a bottle that when you taste it you're going to say "wow, that's a ton of Pinot for money!" I taste a ton of Pinot, and that's exactly what I said. - Marcus 

2017 vintage notes

93 points Wine Spectator, Smart Buy: "Graceful and vibrant, with expressive rose petal, raspberry and crushed stone notes that take on richness and depth toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2026."

2015 vintage notes

#7 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2018, 95 points: "Impressive for the polished texture and elegant complexity, offering vibrant raspberry, orange peel and spice flavors that gain momentum toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2023."

2014 vintage notes

#42 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2017, 91 points: "Firm and focused, with cinnamon notes floating around red berry and floral flavors, finishing with gentle persistence against lively acidity and fine tannins. Best from 2018 through 2022."

Originally conceived of as a second label for Colene Clemens, Dopp Creek has now “joined the family” as Colene Clemens' Willamette Valley blend. We recently tasted through the winery’s 2014 suite of wines and were thoroughly pleased with the quality and consistency at all price levels, beginning with this excellent value. Conveying the house style and reflective of the area where it’s grown, Dopp Creek is rich with dark berry fruit, more on the broad-shouldered side, aided by complimentary spice and oak accents. 

Winemaker Steve Goff’s Pinots are semi-regular selections for our clubs. We’ve followed Steve since he was assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres (from 2001 through 2008). He’s an incredibly laid-back, nice guy and I swear you can taste it in his Pinot noirs.