Item Description
Stephen Tanzer 94
"Bright ruby-red. Vibrant, seductive aromas of raspberry, candied rose, anise and minerals. Intense cherry and red berry preserve flavors are brightened by zesty minerals, picking up a floral pastille quality with aeration. The finish repeats the cherry note and leaves a sexy floral quality behind. Impressively elegant pinot that smoothly weds power and finesse. - Tanzer
(July 2012)"
" This 11 acre estate vineyard is on the steepest slope of the estate. It ranges from about 350 feet to 500 feet in elevation. Cristom began planting Jessie Vineyard in 1994 at the high density of 2300 vines per acre. The site has an east, southeast exposure and is comprised primarily of Nikia soil that is volcanic in origin. Jessie Vineyard has a long and varied slope showing the greatest range of soils and exposures at Cristom. It is a selection of the favorite barrels from the vineyard.
The darkest, deepest, and most savory of the single vineyard wines. It is displaying some rare-beef notes (as in carpaccio) among the darker red fruits. Wood aromas along the range of vanilla-caramel-butterscotch are faintly evident from the barrel flavors that are still integrating in this young pinot. It has a juicy and mouthwatering texture, a pleasurable core of sweet fruit and exquisite balance. Jessie is approachable now and will continue to evolve with some short to mid-term cellaring. " ~ Winery notes
Cristom
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Cristom Vineyards
It was the promise of great wines that first drew Paul and Eileen Gerrie, owners of Cristom Vineyards, to Oregon. They conceived of a place where the succulent Pinot Noir grape could achieve its fullest expression – complex, hand crafted wines that are bold yet balanced: both powerful and elegant. Their wines evolve as they age, revealing ever grater richness and complexity with time. The abundance of soils and slopes in the hills of Oregon defined the Gerrie's vision of world class Pinot Noir. The warm winds of summer held the promise of rich Chardonnay, the cool sunny autumn yielded tart Pinot Gris. Since the inaugural vintage in 1992, the Gerries, along with winemaker Steve Doerner, have been producing wines that are considered the benchmark in Oregon and have made Cristom, named after their children, Christine and Tom, a veritable household name.
Farming Practice: Practicing Organic