Volcanic Oregon Pinot
Site selection, low yields, native yeasts, grapes grown from well-established vines on east-facing volcanic hillsides: Cristom gets everything right. From beginnings thirty years ago in a derelict barn in the Eola-Amity hills, this has become one of Oregon's premier wineries, producing top-flight Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was the vision of Paul Gerrie, an engineer brave enough to throw over the day job to pursue a love of Pinot Noir. He scoured the Americas for the ideal spot to found a winery, and after a long search, spotted the potential of some abandoned vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
The Eola-Amity sub-region is defined by the corridor of cool afternoon breezes that come directly off the Pacific. They lower vineyard temperatures after summer days, helping to preserve acidity and structure in the wines. And while we don't tend to associate Pinot Noir with the volcanic soils here, it is in fact an inspired match, bringing an unusually-inflected complexity to hedonistic Oregon Pinot. These days, Cristom is managed by Paul's son Tom. He joined Cristom after working harvests at wineres that inspired him across three continents; latterly he has been transitioning Cristom to biodynamic viticulture.
After the trauma of the smoke-damaged 2020 vintage, 2021 was a stunning success for the valley. June was the only outlier month in an otherwise warm, dry, steady year. Heavy rain early in the month was followed by the 'heat dome', an excessive temperature spike. But with their roots in waterlogged soils, the vines shrugged off the heat. After that, the season was smooth sailing, and harvest conditions were perfect. Decanter describes 2021 as 'a five-star vintage for the Willamette Valley'. /NT
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available Winter 2023
