Today we share one of the outstanding Oregon producers of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. J. Christopher is the brainchild of famed German winemaker Ernst Loosen. For many years Loosen was attached the wines of the Willamette Valley, and he wanted to be a part of producing wines from this region as he has made some very good German Pinot Noirs. Loosen has cemented his investment in Oregon by purchasing 40 acres on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg, planting the Appassionata Vineyard, and building the winery.
The new wines by J. Christopher were really good. I love the 2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which shows nice stony tones and a smooth mouthfeel with bright red fruits. Learn more about these excellent new wines at https://jchristopherwines.com Here are the great new J. Christopher releases.
2019 J. Christopher ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A beautiful wine to enjoy now, the 2019 ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows salty soil flavors alongside red currants, tobacco leaf and red raspberry flavors. Light to medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2019 J. Christopher ‘Beize Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This Eola-Amity Hills bottling shows off ripe Bing cherry, wild mushroom and cigar box notes on the palate with a smooth texture and light tannins. Light to medium-bodied, this is very elegant Pinot Noir that will live on for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2033- 92
2019 J. Christopher ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers medium bodied red and black fruit flavors alongside freshly tilled stony soils and suggestions of peat moss on the palate. This is seriously good now and will offer drinking enjoyment for another ten years. Drink 2024-2033- 92
2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir comes from a site littered by fractured basalt. Medium-bodied kirsch and red raspberry flavors greet you alongside soft tannins and stony undercurrents on the palate. Drink 2024-2033- 92
2019 J. Christopher ‘Volcanique’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Volcanique’ is the arguably the finest Pinot Noir in this new line, coming from the Dundee Hills AVA. It is nicely concentrated considering the coolness of the vintage. Wet rock and enoki mushroom flavors combine with wild raspberry and tart red currants on the palate. This shows both the stuffing and finesse to age well for another ten plus years. Drink 2024-2035- 93
2019 J. Christopher ‘Kolb Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 3 acre Kolb Vineyard comes from the Dundee Hills AVA. Very pale in color, this reveals a beautiful core of bright Bing cherry, cigar ash, kumquat zest and shades of guava on the palate. Very refined and elegant, this lighter to medium-bodied Pinot Noir is already shining brightly now. Drink 2024-2033- 92
2019 J. Christopher ‘Estate Vineyard Rock Blocks’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Estate Vineyard Rock Blocks’ comes from the high point at the state vineyard. Also very light in color, the stony undertones really shine here. Layers of wet stone, cranberry and damp soil notes all come together nicely on the palate. With its smooth texture and bright underlying acidity, this is already beautifully evolved stuff. Drink 2024-2035- 93