HELP!! Stuck with an '01 Evenstad Domaine Serene PN | Scott Darling (SW Mich) Email | 01-Jul-2005 17:06
	First some back story... We were to attend a very good friend's 50th bday last weekend. Very knowledgeable wine guy who works in the restaurant biz. What to buy? Since my schedule didn't allow, my wife went to a decent area wine shop and consulted the owner on an appropriate gift. She was recco'd the subject bottle, the owner making a little play on words regarding entering the serene period of one's life. (He knows the bday boy too.) Then, Sunday, day of said fete, long story short, our friend suffered a seizure (his 3rd or 4th in a little over a year and a half), spent several days in the hospital, and has subsequently been ordered alcohol-free for the remainder of his days. So now I'm stuck (tongue firmly planted in cheek) with this bottle. I plan on using it to toast the health of our friend. But beyond that, I turn to your expertise. Anyone with experience with this wine? Any TNs to let me know what to expect? As a very green wine student, with some trepidation, I'd like to use this as a learning experience. This isn't a price point we venture into very often.

	HELP!! Stuck with an '01 Evenstad Domaine Serene PN | Laura Brand-Bauer (Jackson, MI) Email | 01-Jul-2005 17:56
	If you need some hands-on assistance, I could come over from Jackson and help you out with that, er, problem. Sincerely, Oregon PN Slut

	Get in line! | Jenise Email | 01-Jul-2005 19:47
	I beat you by 18 minutes. :)

	Ah, yes Jenise. However.... | Scott Darling (SW Mich) Email | 01-Jul-2005 20:00
	you failed to make the offer. And forgot an intriguing signature, like Laura's!! ;)

	Ah yes, the intriguing signature | Jenise Email | 01-Jul-2005 20:06
	NOW we're getting to the bottom of it. So to speak. :)

	If I'd known it was that easy... | Laura Brand-Bauer Email | 01-Jul-2005 20:45
	I'd have tried it sooner! OPNS

	I was waiting for that kind of help!! LOL (e) | Scott Darling (SW Mich) Email | 01-Jul-2005 18:52

	What you have there... | Jenise Email | 01-Jul-2005 17:38
	...is one of my favorite Oregon Pinots. Has been since I was fortunate enough to get "stuck" having dinner with this unknown winery because all the famous winery tables were full at Oregon's Pinot Noir Celebration years ago. They poured several back vintages and the wines were stupefyingly good. The best bottle of Serene I have had and the best bottle of domestic pinot noir I've EVER had are the same wine: a '92 Evanstadt Reserve about a year ago. A second bottle would have been as good (youthful color and fruit) had it not been corked. The wines age like good French burgundy. '01 is my favorite recent Oregon vintage--ripe but with lots of acid and structure. These wines will age like that 92 did. At four years in, that wine will probably be going to sleep soon so you are left with this choice: open it soon and decant for many hours before you drink it, or put it away to rest and don't open it until 2009. OR, best idea yet: splurge on another bottle. Open one now, save one. That's the way to learn.

	What you have there... | Scott Darling (SW Mich) Email | 01-Jul-2005 18:51
	thanks Jenise,,, now,,,, what to do? what to do? Probably decant, I'm not setup for proper long term storage.