Cristom Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2020
Cristom Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2020
Cristom's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the WV appellation – a veritable who's who of the WV: Abbot Claim (Yamhill-Carlton), Durant, Guadalupe (Dundee Hills), Brittan, Hirschy (Yamhill-Carlton), Hyland (first planted in 1971!), Arcus (Dundee Hills), Seven Springs (Eola-Amity Hills), Larry Stone (Eola-Amity Hills), Meredith Mitchell.
In the trusted hands of winemaker Steve Doerner, this fruit is transformed into a savory, food-friendly wine that is one of the best values in Pinot Noir today.
The wine ages for 12 months in oak, in a combination of new, 1 year and 2 year old barrels.
Ratings
The 2020 Cristom Pinot Noir is sturdy and slightly elevated on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of ripe red and black fruits, as well as a hint of minerality. Enjoy it with wood smoked salmon fillets. (Tasted: January 22, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
— 90 points, Wilfred Wong @ wine.com
Tasting Notes
ripe red and black fruits
forest floor
medium + acidity
medium-long finish
minerality
Best to enjoy with
smoked salmon
pork belly
VARIETAL COMPOSITION Pinot Noir
REGION Oregon
COUNTRY United States
APPELLATION(S) Willamette Valley
PROPRIETORS Tom Gerrie
FOUNDED 1992
WINEMAKER Steve Doerner, Daniel Estrin
Cristom is about 10 miles north of Salem, Oregon and 10 miles south of Dundee, about 36 miles east of the Pacific Ocean and about 65 miles west of the crest of the Cascade Range. Soils are comprised of a wide range of mineral rich volcanic materials that are very well drained. The Eola-Amity Hills AVA is influenced, and primarily defined by, cool afternoon breezes that blow off the Pacifc Ocean. This wind blows directly east and finds its way through the Van Duzer Corridor that is the lowest point in the Pacific Coast Range. It has the effect of quickly lowering vineyard temperatures after warm summer days, helping to preserve acidity and structure in the wines.
The five Estate Pinot Noir vineyards within Eola-Amity AVA - Marjorie, Louise, Jessie, Eileen, and Paul Gerrie named for Gerrie family - each possess natural variances in soil, elevation and exposition. With minimal intervention during the winemaking process, Tom, Steve and team strive to craft wines that are an honest recording of both the vineyard and the vintage.
