Domaine Serene Evanstad Reserve Pinot Noir 2014

Great to see more of these better American Pinots in Australia. The prices are mad, but I welcome the diversity. This red from the Willamette Valley spends 16 months in 60% new French oak, very much in the ‘big is better’ USA mode. It almost works too, a deeply coloured, ultra ambitious style with a volume of deep ripe red fruit and all that vanilla oak filling in the palate. High quality French oak sure, but a major element of the wine, complete with oak tannins. Quality fruit and seriously long but less would be more. Best drinking: Good now. 17.5/20, 91/100. 14.2%, $120. Would I buy it? A glass.