Today we share one of the greats out of Oregon. Cristom founder Paul Gerrie hired Cristom’s winemaker Steve Doerner bak in 1992. There now a co-winemaker, Daniel Estrin, who joined over the past year. Paul 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. 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.
For many years Cristom has been producing a fantastic cuvee that blends the vineyards, their Mt. Jefferson Cuvée. This years 2018 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir was one of the finest I have ever sampled from this estate (OB, 92) as this offers some seriously good value. I absolutely adored the 2018 Cristom ‘Jessie Vineyard' Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which shows incredible finesse and really good range with its earthy tones and deep core of high-toned fruits. Learn more about these great wines at https://www.cristomvineyards.com
2019 Cristom Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this outstanding new Rose shows pretty red fruits that dance with shades of green apple on the nose. The palate has a smooth texture with pretty lighter red fruits with rose water tones. Drink 2020-2023- 90
2019 Cristom ‘Estate’ Viognier- Lighter honeysuckle, gooseberry and white peach tones connect on the nose. The palate showcases its bright acidity with copious minerals and lighter pear, green apple and green papaya tones. Enjoy in the short-term while the great acidity is intact. Drink 2020-2023- 90
2018 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- A whiff of cola and wild strawberry entice on the nose with layers of teaberry and damp earth on this complex bouquet. The palate is soft, round and voluptuous with pretty red fruits that dance with minerals, smoke and shades of peat moss. With great concentration and length, this is beautiful wine now that has some good cellaring potential for the next eight years. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2018 Cristom ‘Paul Gerrie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Named after founder Paul Gerrie, the 2018 ‘Paul Gerrie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir underwent 50% whole cluster fermentation before bottling. Shades of wild mushroom and guava puree combine with damp earth and lighter orange rind tones on this beautiful bouquet. The palate offers copious tart red fruits that dance with minerals, kumquat zest and iron tones with shade of white truffle shavings adding to the complexity. WIth seriously good range, the beautiful 2018 ‘Paul Gerrie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2025- 94
2018 Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir really shines brightly in this warm vintage. Named after Cristom’s co-founder, Eileen Gerrie, the ‘Eileen Vineyard’ was first planted in 1997 and was later expanded in 2006 to a total of 16.61 acres. Once on the nose this takes on ripe pomegranate and blood orange zest tones that combine with shades of salty and sandy terroir with wet stone accents on this complex bouquet. The freshness and tension mid-palate is gorgeous, as layers of pretty red fruits mingle with orange rind, cigar ash and a lovely saline streak. Delicious to savor in its youth, the 2018 ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will enjoy another fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2018 Cristom ‘Marjorie VIneyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows baking spice tones woven together with Mandarin orange zest, teaberry and shades of salted red cherries that all meld aromatically. The palate is very well-balanced, showing tremendous poise and length with its core of bright red fruits and citrus rind accents. Medium-bodied, and downright delicious to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will enjoy another fifteen years in the cellar. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2018 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Louise Vineyard’ was first planted back in 1993, and was named after Cristom winegrower and owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother, Louise Dinkelspiel. Ripe red currants march on with smoky minerals, shades of peat moss and Yakima cherry tones on this gorgeous nose. The palate is beautifully textured with a great sense of mouthfeel and tension. Gratifying with its core of red fruits and red florals that mingle with the earthy undertones, this complex wine will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2018 Cristom ‘Jessie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Jessie Vineyard’ is a steep, east-facing hillside that was planted in 1994, named after winegrower-owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother Jessie Sommers. Once on the nose this shows a gorgeous range from potpourri and orange zest to forest floor and shades of menthol that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky smooth with a soft mouthfeel and great veil of minerality. Bright pomegranate seed and guava puree flavors intermingle with minerals, damp earth and dark truffle undertones. Complex and delicious in its youth, this beautiful Pinot Noir will cellar for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2020-2035- 94