Pale ruby color; cherry, raspberry, plum, orange peel, dried fig, chocolate, forest floor, black pepper, light oak on the nose and palate.
Dry; silky tannins; pleasantly balancing acidity (5.8 g/L TA). Medium body. This is Domaine Lumineux’s entry-level estate pinot (I earlier reviewed their reserve effort, more about that later). This effort emphasizes red fruit, approachability, and food friendliness. Blend of select clones: 37% Clone 777, 31% Clone 667, 23% Pommard, 6% Clone 115, 3% Clone 114. The wine spent 10 months in 100% French oak, 33% new. 13.5% ABV
Domaine Lumineux was founded in 2019 by acclaimed filmmaker—and acclaimed winery owner—Francis Ford Coppola. Located in the celebrated Dundee Hills, some of the vines were planted as early as 1997. Vineyard elevations range from 670 to 870 feet, delivering cool and late-ripening growing conditions. The grapes from this effort came from blocks throughout the estate.
This is the “entry level” version of Domaine Lumineux Pinot Noir offerings only when you compare it to their Reserve Pinot Noir of the same vintage. The reserve price is $75-80, while the Cuvée sells for $48-55. Both wines have been well received by critics—and I join them. As expected, the reserve is more complex, has more oak, has more dark fruit notes from domaine’s oldest and highest elevation vineyards.
Cuvée is a nicely done, harmonious expression from across the estate instead of it premium blocks. All Domaine Lumineux’s 42 acres are LIVE certified, sustainable. All of the domain’s vineyards deliver high quality Willamette Valley fruit. While the Reserve is complex and elegant, the Cuvée is fruitier and richer. Save the Reserve for a special occasion in the future; enjoy the Cuvée now, although it, too, has aging potential.
Initially, the Coppola’s effort was called Domaine de Broglie, reflecting Coppola’s passion for science and the groundbreaking work of Louis de Broglie’s work in quantum mechanics. In 2023, the operation changed its name to Domaine Lumineux to celebrate the relationship between light and wine. A new tasting room was part of the name change, a move forced when a fire destroyed the original tasting room in 2021. Both the Reserve and Cuvée are labeled with the new name even though the vineyards and winery had not yet changed names for this vintage. That is irrelevant. Only the type on the label changed, not the owners or winemakers.
Coppola remains at the head of the wine company. Winemaker Dave Petterson remains the winemaker, a role he has played since 2007—a dozen years before the Coppola acquisition. Prior to Coppola, the operation was called Vista Hills Vineyard. Coppola instituted minor tweaks, such as use of less sulfur and a focus on single-block designations for higher end pinot noirs. This effort draws from all the quality blocks in the domaine.
Domaine Lumineux Pinot Noir Cuvée, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2021 is delicious, delightful, smooth, tasty Willamette Valley pinot from high quality grapes that did not make the cut for the domaine’s reserve effort—or at least were not chosen for the extended effort. Quit often, likely here, the grapes for both are of equal quality. This showcases red fruit and accessibility. Many sippers could prefer it to its more expensive sibling. $48-55
Pairing—Roast turkey, chicken, duck (with fruit-based sauces). Salmon is classic, grilled, roasted, or smoked; Arctic char, rainbow trout, tuna, barramundi, mahi mahi, mackerel. Quality, lower-far beef—filet mignon, prime rib. Lamb—butterflied lamb, lamb chops. Pork tenderloin. Mushroom dishes; wild mushroom risotto, grilled portobello mushrooms, mushroom-stuffed fare; roasted butternut squash; roasted beets, carrots. Cheese—Exceptionally versatile; brie, camembert; havarti; gruyère, comté, aged cheddar; chèvre, other aged goat cheese (Vermont Bijou). Taleggio.
