2015 Colene Clemens Dopp Creek Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, OR
I’m particularly pleased to see Colene Clemens at #7, not only does Steve make tremendous wine, but my wife works there. She’s going to be busy this next week.
Like all their other Pinot noir bottlings, it is all estate fruit. This bottling is targeted to the wholesale market, and isn’t tasted/offered openly in their tasting room, though you can buy it direct either from their website or in the tasting room if you’re there.
Except for #'s 1 and 2, this list will have zero long-term impact on price/value (and even then, with enough time, the impact is sometimes nil). For lower-production wines, it may have an impact on availability. None of this should apply to your Vieux Donjon.
I was guessing '15 Beaucastel (97pts) or Clos des Papes (98pts) for WOTY, but not likely with another CDP already in the top 10. '13 Luigi Pira Barolo Serralunga (95pts, $39) was also on my shortlist given their usual criteria.
I’m not buying to flip. Glad I got them now because of worry they won’t be available later, and because future vintages may be priced higher. This is one of the few CDP I like that is still priced quite well.
Unfortunately I did not have access to the '16 Aubert, Larry Hyde and Sons. Earlier this year I had a '15 (not sure of the vintage exactly) Aubert CIX that was spectacularly complex and balanced. In consideration for 2018 WOTY.
I just purchased and received the 2016 Colene Clemens Dopp Creek Pinot Noir which is what is available at the winery. It is also available nationally at a very good price (about $25). I hope it is as good as the 2015.
-Ken McLeroy