It is my pleasure to share one of the greats out of Oregon. Cristom Vineyards hosted for a visit and tour a week ago. This is one of the most gorgeous spots that you will find in the Willamette Valley. Over the years Cristom has gained world-wide acclaim for their single vineyard Pinot Noirs. More recently they have been really improving their Chardonnay program. The Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir has been one of the great values out of Oregon. This 2023 edition of this wine is another sensational bottling by them.
WInemaker Daniel Estrin, who also serves as vineyard manager, has an impressive resume, with stints at Red Car as well as Craggy Range in New Zealand before landing his position Littorai. He has made a wonderful impact to Cristom on the winemaking side. I love the 2023 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 93) which is bright and fragrant, showing a smooth mouthfeel. Even better is the 2022 Cristom Vineyards ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with serious richness and underlying tension. Check out more about these outstanding wines at https://www.cristomvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new releases by Cristom.
2023 Cristom ’Louise Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2023 ‘Louise Vineyard’ was sourced from this location set on basalt soils. Stored in all neural oak barrels, this delivers honeysuckle and juicy peach aromatics that combine with salty soils and shades of ginger on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and good sense of length. Nervy and intense, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2033- 93
2023 Cristom ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay- The 2023 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay comes from both the Paul Gerrie and Björnson Vineyards. This was given 100% whole cluster carbonic maceration and then stored in neutral oak barrels before bottling. Translucent in the glass, this delivers loads of juicy red fruits that collide with baking spices, thyme and a light dusting of white pepper, with cran-orange accents on the palate. Really good in its vibrant youth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir was aged in nearly all neutral oak for 11 months prior to bottling. The wine saw roughly 50% half whole cluster fermentation. Juicy guava and strawberry fruits mark the nose alongside cloves, black pepper dusted orange peel and tobacco leaf notes. The palate is gorgeous in terms of weight and flavor density. This is a truly outstanding bottling at a great price. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2022 Cristom ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the Bjornson Vineyard is set on volcanic soils and formerly had a good amount of poison oak planted. This 2022 Pinot Noir was stored in 33% new French oak barrels before bottling. It shows beautiful concentration with a silky texture upon entry, feeding on the great red floral aromatics. A beautiful melange of red and dark fruits parade with rocky soils, sea salt and shades of black truffle shavings on the palate. Delicious, neatly textured and downright delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Cristom ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ was sourced from this location planted back in 1988, set on rocky soils. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this shows concentrated black raspberry and pomegranate fruit flavors that combine with wet stone and tar accents on the palate. Complex and delightful in its heady youth, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Only 150 cases produced. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Cristom ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Dundee Hills, the Durant Vineyard dates back to 1973 plantings and is set on deep, volcanic soils. This 2022 Pinot Noir delivers beautiful red rose petals and menthol notes on the nose alongside white truffle oil and suggestions of damp rock with red currants. The palate is vibrant in terms of minerality and tension that runs through a beautiful core of rich red fruits, with cedar, and damp earthy accents. Smooth on the mouth and showing good weight and length, with no rough edges, this is a delicious rendition of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah- One of the unique bottlings of the Willamette Valley, for years the Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah was only made during warm vintages. Times have changed. This 2022 edition might be the finest yet, with some Cote Rotie underpinnings, yielding bulls blood and iodine notes alongside wet rock, tart red fruits and suggestions of orange peel. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92