Ending this week on a high note, and as part of Oregon Wine Month, we bring to you the gorgeous wines of Cristom Vineyards. Founder Paul Gerrie hired Cristom’s winemaker Steve Doerner and Vineyard Manager Mark Feltz in 1992 and since that time Cristom has crafted world class Pinot Noir wines. Gerrie named his four estate vineyards after the four females of his family, Eileen, Jessie, Louise and Marjorie. Gerrie's son, Tom, now leads the company and heads the winemaking team alongside Paul and Mark.
For many years Cristom has been producing a fantastic cuvee that blends the vineyards, their Mt. Jefferson Cuvée. This years Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir was one of the finest I have ever sampled from this estate (WWB, 93) as this outstanding value Pinot Noir showed wonderful richness and intensity of this exciting 2014 vintage.
Winemaker Steve Doerner had a previous stint at Calera prior to coming to Cristom in the early 90s. A world traveler, Doerner makes some world class Pinot Noir at Cristom. Look for the 2015 Cristom ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris (WWB, 92) which was one of the best Gris bottling that I sampled in my Oregon Report for International Wine Report (http://www.internationalwinereport.com/articles/oregon-vol-ii). Similarly, one of the highest rated Pinot Noir wines on the report was the 2014 Cristom 'Eileen Vineyard' Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which showed a gorgeous flavor and aromatic range, as well as wonderful mid-palate weight. Learn more about these great wines at https://www.cristomvineyards.com
2015 Cristom 'Estate' Pinot Gris- This wine opens with aromatics of brioche, unripe pear, cantaloupe and nutmeg. There are flavors of papaya, honeydew melon, Gala apple and suggestions of baking slices. Drink 2017-2024- 92
2015 Cristom 'Estate' Viognier-This has pretty aromatics of lychee, honeysuckle, apricot and poached pear. There are flavors of vanilla cream, banana, Meyer lemon and suggestions of nectarine. Drink 2017-2023- 91
2014 Cristom 'Mt. Jefferson Cuvee' Pinot Noir - This wine begins with powerful aromatics of black cherry, black tea, pomegranate seed and suggestions of forest floor. The aromas are gorgeous and highly perfumed. There are flavors of black cherry, black tea, pomegranate, cola and Mandarin orange rind. Drink 2017-2027- 93
2013 Cristom 'Estate' Pinot Noir- This wine has aromatics of black tea, black cherry, cranberry and orange rind. There are flavors of pomegranate, Bing cherry, black plum and suggestions of Satsuma orange. The minerality is lovely and intense. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2014 Cristom 'Estate' Pinot Noir- This wine opens with a bouquet of forest floor, blood orange, black truffle, and cardamon. There are rich flavors of black truffle crudo, black cherry, black olive, mint, boysenberry liquor and forest floor. There is a seamless quality to this wine. There's a beautiful balance between terroir and fruit. Drink 2017-2030- 93
2014 Cristom 'Eileen Vineyard' Pinot Noir- This wine opens with a bouquet of black tea, black truffle, black raspberry, rose petals, and cranberry sauce. The aromatics are simply gorgeous and constantly bring you to the glass for more. There are deep flavors of black cherry, red raspberry, pomegranate seed, guava purée and suggestions of teaberry. Drink 2017-2030- 94
2014 Cristom 'Louise Vineyard' Pinot Noir-The wine begins with aromas of black tea, wild blackberry, baking spices and thyme and black cherry. There are flavors of guava, red cherry, red raspberry and wild blackberry preserves. Drink 2017-2028- 93
2014 Cristom 'Jessie Vineyard' Pinot Noir- Funky and earthy on the nose there are aromatics of black truffle, peat moss, black cherry and black tea. There are flavors of black cherry, black tea, pomegranate, cranberry and forest floor. Earthy, intense and lively, this light on its feet Wine is impossible to resist. There is a wonderful seamless quality to this wine. He texture is superlative leads to the extremely long finish. Drink 2017-2030- 94