Grapes
100% Pinot Noir. This bottling is Cristom's flagship blend, featuring a record 77% estate fruit from their world-class vineyards (Paul Gerrie, Eileen, Louise, and Jessie) combined with fruit from esteemed neighboring sites in the Eola-Amity Hills.
Farming
Sourced predominantly from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in the Willamette Valley. The estate vineyards are planted on diverse volcanic soils (Columbia River Basalts), influenced by the cooling Pacific Ocean winds funneled through the Van Duzer Corridor. The vineyards are farmed using a combination of organic and biodynamic principles.
Winemaking
100% hand-harvested fruit is used. The wine is made using Cristom's traditional, low-intervention style, featuring 45% whole-cluster fermentation and 100% native yeast fermentations. The wine is then aged for 11 months on its lees in French oak barrels, with only 26% new oak, and is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes
A fresh, wild, and savory expression with vibrant acidity and an elegant structure. Aromas of blackberry bramble, dark cherry, and huckleberry seamlessly intertwine with savory hints of curry leaves and lobster mushrooms, accented by subtle notes of dried orange peel and baking spices. The earthy and floral elements carry through to the palate, integrated with effusive raspberry and cherry notes, leading to a long, spicy finish.
Scores