James Suckling 95
"Theres purity of fruit to this pinot with strawberry and floral aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine, firm tannins and pretty, tangy acidity. Lemon undertones. Needs time to open. Better after 2024."

The Wine
The 2018 Marjorie is a seventeen-barrel blend of some of the finest barrels in the cellar. The overall 2018 blend is composed of five clones of Pinot Noir, including: 29 original vine Pommard, 24 original vine Wdenswil, and 47 young vine Pommard, Wdenswil, 114, 115 and 777. The 2018 Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir explodes from the glass with concentrated red-fruits, dusty earth aromas, savory spices and baking spices. There is a pleasing strawberry briar patch note that blends with a sweet pipe tobacco as the wine opens up. There is a richness of fruit on the palate, with soft delicate tannins that marry well with juicy acidity that lingers and lingers. This wine is approachable now, and it will reward those with patience for 12-15 years or more.

The Estate
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 greater richness and complexity with time. The abundance of soils and slopes in the hills of Oregon defined the Gerries 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.