WINERY ACCOLADES
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Winery of the Year: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012
Profiled in Ray Isle’s book, The World in a Wineglass: The Insider’s Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now
Decanter, Top 50 US Wines of 2024, 2022 Louise Vineyard Chardonnay
OwenBargreen.com Top 100 Wines of 2024, 2022 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir
VinePair, 30 Best Chardonnays for 2024, 2022 Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills
VinePair, 18 Best Pinot Grigios for 2024, 2023 Louise Vineyard Pinot Gris
Jeb Dunnuck, Top 100 Wines of 2023, 2021 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir
Wine Enthusiast, Top 100 Cellar Selections of the Year, 2021 Louise Vineyard Chardonnay
Decanter, One of the Top 5 Chardonnays of Willamette Valley’s 2021 Vintage, 2021 Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay
JancisRobinson.com Featured Wine of the Week, December 8, 2023, 2021 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir
Wine Spectator, Top 100 Wines of 2019, Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir
Wine & Spirits, #1 OREGON PINOT NOIR IN AMERICA’S TOP RESTAURANTS: 2019, 2018,
2017, 2016
Wine & Spirits, Top 50 Pinot Noirs, 2022
Wine & Spirits, Top 50 Wine Brands in America’s Top Restaurants: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Extraordinary Winery of the Year Nominee, 2020 Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Best Oregon Winery Nominee, 2017
Food & Wine Magazine, Best Oregon Wineries to Visit, 2016
Wine & Spirits, Years Best Chardonnay, 2020
WINE SCORES & ACCLAIM
Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
- 2022 Vintage
- 2021 Vintage
- 2019 Vintage
- 2018 Vintage
- 2017 Vintage
- 2016 Vintage
- 2015 Vintage
- 2014 Vintage
2022 Vintage
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, November 2023
“Created by tasting each individual barrel and wanting to showcase the best of Eola-Amity Hills, the 2022 Mt Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir was aged for 10 months in 22% new French oak barrels. 52% whole cluster is used during fermentation, which gives it some added structure and tannins. Sporting a glimmering light to medium core with a light pink rim, this stunning Pinot Noir pops with notes of black cherries, red plum, anise, grated orange peel, sweet baking spice, and dried rose petals. Balanced texture across the palate, but the wine is very young, so give it 1-2 years in the bottle before enjoying. 2025-2035″
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“A lively, precise and well-composed pinot…It’s crisp and spot-on…”
94 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
“…gorgeous out of the gate…elegant but structured…great energy…“
93 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
“Wildly exotic…wonderfully fresh, nearly crunchy in feel…”
93 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“…Wonderfully savoury…a new height for Mt Jefferson…2024-2033”
93 Points & Top 100 Wines of 2024 – Dr. Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
“…The palate is juicy and round with loads of mouth-watering acidity and rich, tart red fruit flavors with orange peel, tobacco, and salty soil accents.”
92.7 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide
91 pts – Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
“…concentrated layers of earth-laced fruit…vibrant acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish.”
17+ “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Savoury rockiness with tactile elevated tannin…Brightness and elevated acidity. Long… 2024-2034 (SCJ)”
GOLD – 2024 TEXSOM Wine Awards
2021 Vintage
97 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, November 2022
I’m incredibly impressed with the 2021’s coming from the Cristom Estate, and this one is a perfect example of the phenomenal wines from the vintage. The Mt. Jefferson (Cuvée) Pinot Noir was just recently released, but it feels ready to drink now with impeccable balance, structure, and length. Notes of wild huckleberry, toasted anise, perfumed flowers, spiced red plum, and a hint of tangerine zest combine beautifully on the tongue. Delivering perfect balance, mouthwatering acidity, and rounded tannins, this will be a fun wine to watch over the next ten years to see how it evolves with age. Highly recommended. 2022-2032
93 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“…this is Cristom’s appellation wine, and it more than delivers, as they take the same approach they do with their single-vineyard bottlings…2023 – 2030″
92 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine, February 2023
“Warm and generous, Mt. Jeff is Cristom’s appellation wine, drawing largely from…” — P.J.C., 2/23
Gold Medal, 2023 TEXSOM Awards
2019 Vintage
97 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“This is very seductive on the nose with ripe strawberry, spice…”
95 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“The caliber of the 2019 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir, Cristom’s…” – Erin Brooks
93 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2022
The 2019 Mt. Jefferson Pinot Noir was a nice surprise for me because it way over-delivers for the price point. A fruit-forward nose of wild blueberry, mountain huckleberry, and a hint of dried hay – it’s a tad richer on the nose than some of the other Cristom Pinots. The fantastic palate brings flavors of blue fruit alongside notes of freshly tilled earth, a hint of toasted pine nuts, and just a spec of ground chocolate bar. Acidity is elevated, tannins are crunchy, and the medium body helps complete this outstanding wine. 11,000 cases were made. Best Buy. 2022-2030
92 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Brilliant ruby-red. Spice-accented red and blue fruits, candied rose and baking spices…”
92 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
Despite the obvious coolness of the vintage, the 2019 ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvée’ is not short on weight. With plenty of freshness, tons of astringent red fruits greet you, with hints of blood orange zest, pine needles and suggestions of loamy soils on the palate. The nice dusting of salinity adds to the enjoyment as this beautiful bottling is great to enjoy in its youth and surely will cellar well for another eight plus years. What a wine for the price! Drink 2021-2029
91 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“… tight, herbal, steely wine with compact cranberry and wild raspberry fruit…” – Paul Gregutt, December 2021
90 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremey Young
Fruit that comes from 22 of the Cristom vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, the Mt. Jefferson Cuvée is the most produced Pinot Noir from the estate at 9,655 cases and only ($40). It sees 40% whole cluster fermentation and rests for 11 months in 30% new French oak. Dominating the nose are aromas of red cherry, cranberry, blueberry, and lovely woodsy characteristic like a freshly shaved pencil. A lean but vibrant palate produced flavors of red raspberry and cranberry, ending with an herbaceous note on the mid-palate. It’s a lovely wine for the price point. 2022-2028
2018 Vintage
91 Points – The Wine Enthusiast
“An outstanding vintage for this entry-level Pinot, it opens with scents…” – Paul Gregutt
92 Points – Vinous
“Vivid ruby. Vibrant red currant, boysenberry and cherry aromas…” – Josh Raynolds
91 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“The 2018 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir is the first…” – Erin Brooks
94 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“A very spicy and fresh array of blueberries, ripe darker cherries…”
2017 Vintage
91 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby-purple, it’s scented of red and black cherries…” – Erin Brooks
92 Points – The Wine Spectator
“Expressive strawberry blossom and raspberry aromas open to elegantly structured…” – #73 of the Top 100 of 2019
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“An attractive array of rich red to dark cherries that delivers…”
2016 Vintage
93 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir is pale to medium ruby…” – Erin Brooks
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“Seductively floral red-fruit and sweet-spice complexity to this cleverly styled…”
2015 Vintage
91 Points- Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Bright red. Fresh red berry and candied rose scents show…”
95 Points- JAMESSUCKLING.com
“The nose is fresh and shows great depth with raspberry crumble…”
91 Points- “Editor’s Choice”, The Wine Enthusiast
“Mt. Jefferson Cuvée is a blend of the Cristom estate Pinot Noir…”
2014 Vintage
94 Points – JAMESSUCKLING.COM
“Aromas of walnuts, berries and spices with hints of orange peel…”
91 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Bright red. Forward, spice-accented aromas of fresh red berries, cola and lavender…”
90 points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“Has a lively, wild strawberry and candied orange peel scented…”
Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
- 2022 Vintage
- 2021 Vintage
- 2019 Vintage
- 2018 Vintage
- 2017 Vintage
- 2016 Vintage
- 2015 Vintage
- 2014 Vintage
2022 Vintage
97 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
97 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“The 2022 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir from Cristom is a stunning example of meticulous winemaking. This wine glistens with a medium ruby core and a bluish rim, hinting at its vibrancy. The vineyard, perched at the top of a windy hill, produces grapes with thick skins, contributing to the wine’s robust structure and crunchy tannins. Aging in 35% new French oak imparts delightful baking spice nuances. The nose is an inviting blend of purple flower blossoms, ripe mountain huckleberries, cedary herbs, lemon zest, and hints of grated chocolate. On the palate, elevated acidity and complex tannins create a harmonious and refreshing experience. The interplay of crunchy textures and refined flavors makes this Pinot Noir a standout that I highly recommend. Better in 2025 and then age for a decade or more. 816 cases were made. 2025-2035”
95 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
94.5 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
2021 Vintage
97 Points & Editor’s Choice – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2023
“Glistening medium ruby core with a shimmering bluish rim in the glass, the 2021 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir is a masterclass of winemaking. About 45% whole cluster was used during fermentation to give it some added structure and tannin, while the aging takes place in 35% new French oak barrels, which deliver fantastic baking spice tones. The vineyard is at the very top of the hill, where winds are constantly buffeting the vines, creating grapes with very thick skins. Gorgeous aromas of lilac flowers, blue plums, cedary herbs, lemon verbena, and a touch of melted milk chocolate keep you coming back for more. Acidity is elevated alongside the crunchy and complex tannins that keep everything tied together. Better in 2024. 792 cases made. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. 2024-2038”
96 Points & #88 Top Wines of 2023 – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
“Full-bodied with a weightless feel, ripe, well-structured tannins, and a tension-packed, ripe core…”
96 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“…The resulting wine is a study in Eola-Amity terroir, a combination of soil diversity and those famed winds that make this place possible…2023 – 2035”
95 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“Focused, dense, elegant and vibrant…Agile and succulent…”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
92 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
92 Points – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
16.5 “Distinguished” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Tactile, lightly sandy tannin and high acid…Lavender, floral character to the finish. 2024-2030”
2019 Vintage
96 Points –Jamessuckling.com
“Dried-strawberry, rose-stem and wet-earth aromas follow through…”
96 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard is pure, delicate…” – Erin Brooks
96 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Saturated garnet. Vibrant red fruit, floral and exotic spice qualities…”
94 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2022
Presenting medium neon ruby with a purple rim in the glass, this age-worthy Pinot Noir from the Eilleen Vineyard should age wonderfully for the next 15 years or more with proper cellaring. Satiny smooth with flavors and aromas of mountain blueberry, wild huckleberry, crushed white peppercorn, powdered graphite, and a touch of hoisin sauce, it ends long and spicey on the back palate. 750 cases made. 2022-2037
94 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
My favorite of all the Cristom Pinot Noirs, this stunning wine comes from one of their coolest vineyards and delivers fresh and lively, complex notes of wild strawberry, toasted anise, black tea, wet autumn leaves, milk chocolate, and Mexican lime pith. The palate is wonderfully balanced between the racy acidity, medium tannins, and exquisite structure and finish. Secondary characteristics of burnt orange and dried thyme complete the wine. The wine does see 43% new French oak aging but it’s not as noticeable as that number makes it out to be. It’s absolutely delicious. 749 cases produced. 2022-2030
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
The ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is an homage to Cristom’s co-founder, Eileen Gerrie. Planted in 1997 this site encompasses 16.61 acres of Pinot Noir plantings. Aromatically quite intense this moves from red fruits into dark fruits with baking spices, particularly cardamom taking center stage. The palate is silky and refined with soft tannins that line a core of pretty red fruits, alongside Satsuma orange zest and peat moss tones. Salty and savory, with bright acidity, this beautiful wine has yet to fully hit its stride, but has massive potential. Drink 2021-2035
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“The tight raspberry and cherry fruit is showcased with a dusting of cocoa…” – December 2021
92 points – Wine Spectator, Tim Fish
“Sinewy and coiled up with tension, this red offers brooding…”
2018 Vintage
95 Points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Deep scarlet. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes spice-tinged raspberry liqueur, cherry and potpourri, along with a deeper cola nuance and a hint of smoky minerality. Velvety and seamless on the palate, offering expansive red and blue fruit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows impressive delineation and finishes extremely long and spicy, with polished tannins and resonating floral and cherry notes.
95 Points – JAMESSUCKLING.com
A complex nose with sappy, foresty notes framing ripe blueberries, red cherries and sultry, gently herbal, bunchy influence. The palate has impressive power and drive, packed with fresh red-cherry and boysenberry flavors. The acidity is a feature and holds a very long, supple and lively finish.
92 Points – Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December 2020
The 2018 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard was made with 48% whole clusters and aged 17 months in 57% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and savory prosciutto and aniseed-laced rhubarb and cranberries plus loads of latent spices. The medium-bodied palate is fresh and silky, its juicy uplift is an excellent foil for its broody, spicy fruits, and it finishes long.
92 Points – P.J.C. (Wine & Spirits)
From the top end of the Cristom property, where the vines are the most exposed to the Van Duzer winds, this wine is spicy and tightly wound when first poured. The dark plum fruit is steeped in licorice-root notes, with a lovely concentration that lingers. It has the tannic backbone and the whole-cluster grip to match duck sausages.
2017 Vintage
95 Points – Wine & Spirits P.J.C.
This pinot, from the top elevations of Cristom’s property, topping out at 720 feet, dramatizes a tension between savory whole-cluster scents and luminous lean-fruit expression. It’s aromatically seductive, with its scents of clove and thyme, lavender and autumn leaves leading into dark cherry flavors. What’s most impressive, though, is the texture, firm but lively, with an acid-tannin matrix that drives the wine with firm, silky intensity.
94 Points – JAMESSUCKLING.com
This has a very bright array of rich red cherries, together with a herbal accent and a thread of rose-like perfume, as well as autumnal leaves and sweet, woody spices. The palate has very assertive red cherries with elegant tannins that are paper-fine, but have combined length and strength. Great detail here.
2016 Vintage
95 Points – JAMESSUCKLING.com
Very alluring, spice-laced, ripe red and black cherries, making a complex statement on the nose. The succulent and focused palate has a very considered feel with impressive balance and a long and focused, cherry core that delivers detailed textural allure.
2015 Vintage
95 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Lurid red. Intense, highly expressive aromas of raspberry preserves, cherry cola, Asian spices and incense carry a sexy floral overtone. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering sweet Chambord, rose pastille and five-spice powder flavors that become more energetic with air. Closes sappy, spicy and extremely long, delivering emphatic red fruit thrust, lingering florality and talc-y tannins that merge effortlessly into the energetic fruit.” Drinking Window 2021-2028
94+ points – Lisa Perotti Brown, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Eileen gives bold raspberry preserves and red currant jelly notes with suggestions of chargrill meat, truffles, forest floor and cedar. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a solid backbone of grainy tannins and loads of freshness supporting the generous, muscular fruit, finishing with great persistence.” Drink Date 2017-2025
94 points – JAMESSUCKLING.COM
“A very refined and elegant nose but one that jumps out with orange zest, cranberries, citrus, slate, sour cherries, herbs and even pink grapefruit. Medium to full body, a firm yet structured, dusty tannins backbone, really fresh acidity and a long, zippy finish. Delicious now but better in 2019.”
2014 Vintage
95 points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Perhaps the best thing to be said about this wine is how much it compelled us to want to drink more of it. Grown at Cristom’s highest-elevation vineyard, this is captivating from start to finish, by turns propulsive and generous, light and penetrating, invigorating in its earthy lavender scents, its wisp of bergamot and cherry. Fully ripe, it maintains a light tone, propelled by vigorous acidity and suspended by a pulsing, mineral grip.”
94 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Brilliant red. Highly frangrant, expansive scents of ripe red berries, Asian spices, blood orange and candied rose; a smoky mineral element builds in the glass. Silky and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining raspberry and floral pastille flavors that show a striking interplay of depth and vivacity. Closes sweet, gently tannic and impressively long, delivering lingering notes of emphatic red berry, spice and floral pastille.”
94 points – JAMESSUCKLING.COM
“Subtle aromas of cedar, dark berries, tea and orange peel follow through to a full to medium body, compacted fruit and a fine tannin backbone. Excellent acidity as well. Drink in 2019.”
Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
- 2022 Vintage
- 2021 Vintage
- 2019 Vintage
- 2018 Vintage
- 2017 Vintage
- 2016 Vintage
- 2015 Vintage
- 2014 Vintage
- 2013 Vintage
2022 Vintage
96 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
96 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“Aged for 17 months on its lees in 30% new French oak barrels, the 2022 Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir pours a medium ruby-garnet core with a light pink rim. Impeccably balanced between the crunchy red fruits, sweet baking spices, and wet earth notes, the nose pops with additional aromas of dried cedary herbs and just a touch of red licorice. Boasting perfected levels of tannins and sweet, mouthwatering acidity, this one has the stuffing to last for another decade or more with proper cellaring. About 798 cases crafted. Highly recommended. 2024-2034”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
93.5 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
92 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
2021 Vintage
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2023
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“Winemaker (and vineyard manager) Daniel Estrin refers to the Jessie Pinot as a velvet sledgehammer, saying ‘this site has power and intensity with smooth edges.’…2023 – 2033”
94 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“Juicy and focused with harmonious structure…”
94 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
93 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
91 Points – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
17.5 “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Incredibly elegant nose…Structured and spicy palate with velvety tannin…2023-2033”
2019 Vintage
96 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“The aromas are pretty amazing here with dried flowers, pure fruit…”
96 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard offers notable layering and purity this vintage…” – Erin Brooks
95 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Dark garnet. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits…”
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
Planted back in 1994 ‘Jessie Vineyard’ is a steep, east-facing hillside site that was named after winegrower-owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother Jessie Sommers. The aromas coming from the glass are quite literally a spice rack, as pretty guava and Yakima cherry tones collide with the spicy under currents. The palate is refined with a beautiful texture and good length. Layers of red fruits and citrus rind combine with damp earth and stony undertones on the palate. Finishing very long, this glorious effort is great to savor right now and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2021-2036
93 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
Red raspberry, wet earth, Earl Gray tea dominate the nose of this gorgeous Pinot Noir from Cristom that sees 45% whole cluster fermentation and is aged in 42% new French oak barrels. An expressive palate of black raspberry, black cherry, brown mushroom, mocha powder, and a touch of saline melds well with the medium-plus tannin and medium-high acidity, and lengthy finish. 769 cases produced. 2022-2030
92 points – Wine Spectator, Tim Fish
“Dense yet refined, with multilayered dark berry, sandalwood and black tea…”
92 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“A light touch of compost adds texture and detail to this wine…”
2018 Vintage
99 Points – Jamessuckling.com
This dramatically steep site delivers a wine of real personality and distinctiveness. The nose has a very layered mix of red cherries and berries with some plums, leaves, dry stones, forest wood and a wealth of sweetly fragrant spices. The palate holds such intensity and concentrated flavor with striking focus and drive. Mouthwateringly fresh red-cherry flavors are delivered in essence-like mode and hold long, on a super vibrant, explosive finish. The star of 2018 at Cristom and indeed for Willamette Valley pinot per se.
94 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
The 2018 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard was made with 46% whole clusters and aged 17 months in 51% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has an incredible perfume of broody earth, licorice and lilac with concentrated blueberry and cranberry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is silky and expansive, offering loads of perfume and powerful fruit in a seamless, feathery frame, finishing very long. What a beauty! 859 cases produced. – 30 December 2020
93 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
Limpid ruby-red. Ripe red berries, cherry cola, exotic spices and a hint of potpourri on the deeply perfumed nose. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering spice-tinged black raspberry, cherry liqueur and rose pastille flavors complemented by subtle licorice and mocha nuances. A smoky quality builds with air and carries through a long, youthfully tannic finish that echoes the cherry note.
93 Points – P.J.C. Wine & Spirits
Named for Paul Gerrie’s grandmother, Jessie is an 11-acre vineyard that’s among the Willamette’s steepest. In 2018, the wine leads with a smoky, austere expression of those shallow soils, viewed through a lens of cluster spice. But bright, warm cherry flavor comes bursting through the austere frame, mouthfilling and delicious. This is still far from peak expression; cellar it.
2017 Vintage
97 Points – Jamessuckling.com
A very distinctive nose with a wild array of red berries and cherries and a thread of blue fruit, too. There’s a dried wild-rose perfume and a violet-like thread with subtle, herbal-based notes. It’s a moving target in the glass with incredible complexity. This has a gift of revelation. The palate has a very assertive edge with a powerful core of intense tannins that carry a spicy thread of rich dark cherries and dark plums in a defined, savory and athletic stance. A star of the vintage. Drink over the next decade or more.
92 Points – P.J.C Wine & Spirits
Like a Highland single malt, this leads with scents of peat and pepper. The flavors fall deftly between plum, black cherry and savor, with a suave texture that belies a granular intensity, succulent and energetic for veal marsala.
2016 Vintage
94 Points –Jamessuckling.com
There’s a sense of resolve from the get-go here with very pure red and darker cherries making a youthful impression. The palate has a succulent and finely detailed array of well-judged tannins that frame the finish very neatly. Good depth and detail here.
93 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
The 2016 Jessie comes from Cristom’s steepest vineyard, an east-facing slope planted in 1994. It’s so attractive that, at first, you may miss its complexity. Sure, it has the Earl Grey tea character that’s typical of the winery’s whole-cluster style, but it’s surrounded by a bright dark-berry flavor, gentle and clean, lightly propelled by savory spice.
2015 Vintage
94 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Vivid red. Ripe red fruits, potpourri and a hint of blood orange on the assertively perfumed nose, lifted by a vibrant mineral quality. Silky and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, spice-tinged cherry and raspberry liqueur flavors and a hint of five-spice powder. Becomes richer with air, with no loss of vibrancy, and finishes with powerful, spicy thrust, fine-grained tannins and an exotic floral pastille note that lingers with serious tenacity.” Drinking Window 2021-2027
94 points – Lisa Perotti Brown, The Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard is scented of kirsch, mulberries and raspberry tart with underlying Chinese five spice, hoisin and mossy bark hints. Medium-bodied, there’s a very seductive mid-palate of red berry and exotic spice flavors, supported by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with spicy layers.” Drink Date 2017-2024
92 points – JAMESSUCKLING.COM
“Aromas of plums, raspberries and orange skin to this pinot noir. Light to medium body, firm tannins and a pretty finish. Drink now or hold.”
2014 Vintage
94 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Deep red. Ripe black raspberry and cherry cola scents are complemented by suggestions of exotic floral oils, Indian spices and woodsmoke. Plush, sweet and sappy on the palate, offering concentrated red and dark berry and cherry liqueur flavors that become more lively with aeration. In a rich but decidedly vibrant style, thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes smooth, focused and extremely long, with building spiciness and smooth, gently gripping tannins.”
93 points – Rusty Gaffney M.D., The Prince of Pinot
“Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas are varied and include cherry, rose petal, spice, earth and oak. Noticeable vigor in a mid weight styled wine with flavors of cherry, raspberry, spice and floral goodness. A little more masculine and “grounded” than the Marjorie with a little more structural tannins and perhaps a little less exuberant. The texture is refined and polished and there is noticeable intensity on the finish.”
2013 Vintage
93 points – The Wine Enthusiast
“Bright and brambly, this dense and textural wine brings strawberry and cherry fruit goodness front and center. It remains powerfully focused deep into a long finish, nuanced with cured meat and barrel toast.”
92 points – Wine Spectator Magazine
“Ruby-red. Highly perfumed scents of dark berries, cola and rose oil. Fleshy, expansive black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors display a suave blend of richness and energy, picking up a spicy character with air. Finishes juicy and very long, with lingering dark fruit flavors and slow-building tannins. Drinking window: 2019-2024.”
Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
- 2022 Vintage
- 2021 Vintage
- 2019 Vintage
- 2018 Vintage
- 2017 Vintage
- 2016 Vintage
- 2015 Vintage
- 2014 Vintage
- 2013 Vintage
2022 Vintage
96 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“Aged for 17 months on its lees in 30% new French oak barrels, the 2022 Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir from Cristom is another scintillating wine from the team at Cristom. Displaying a medium ruby core with a delicate pink rim, it is made from all biodynamic and organic fruit. The nose is vibrant with macerated boysenberry, poached red plum, fresh red cherry, dried lavender, and tangerine zest with just a touch of damp earth. On the palate, it boasts a lovely structure and balance, finishing with delightful notes of blue fruits, black tea, earth, and subtle spice, which pair perfectly with the crunchy tannins and lemony acidity. 792 cases made. 2024-2034”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
94 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
94 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
2021 Vintage
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“…This site has a lot of geological complexity, and this structured Pinot will go the distance. 2023 – 2034”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
94 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
94 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2023
93 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
92 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
92 Points – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
17.5+ “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Darker fruit on the nose…Warming with brown-spice notes. Structurally very firm and tight…Very long. Brooding. 2025-2035”
2019 Vintage
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“I like the richness and freshness on the nose with strawberry…”
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
“…of the older Pinot Noir sites in the Willamette Valley, the ’Louise Vineyard’ was planted back in 1993, and was named after Cristom winegrower and owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother, Louise Dinkelspiel. Once on the nose this takes on pretty red florals alongside Bing cherry and hints of wintergreen. Showing plenty of depth, concentration and length, the wine is a beautiful joyride spanning a range of red fruits woven together with smoky minerals, citrus rind and damp earthy tones. Finishing very long this beautiful 2019 Pinot Noir will surely cellar well for another fifteen years or more. Drink 2021-2035
94 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Deep, vivid red. Vibrant red and blue fruit, floral and incense scents…”
94 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard has a medium ruby color…”
93 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
This stunning Pinot Noir from Cristom comes from their oldest vineyard which now is over 25 years old. The wine sees 45% whole cluster fermentation (which I can pick up a bit more in this wine than the others) and 37% new French oak barrels. Red and blue plum, cedary herbs, toasted cinnamon, and a touch of tar explode from the glass. More tart than ripe on the palate, you are greeted with red and black cherry, wet tilled earth, and a hint of toasted baking spice. It’s a nicely balanced wine, with ample acidity and tannin, that will improve over the next year or two and should age for a solid decade. 746 cases produced. 2022-2032
92 Points, Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“The first planted estate vines comprise this block, yielding a bright…”
91 points – Wine Spectator, Tim Fish
“Dense and a bit tight now, with concentrated blueberry and…”
2018 Vintage
96 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Very attractively vivid raspberry, strawberry and red-cherry aromas on offer here. This is really bathed in ripe fruit and expressed in a very pure mode. The palate has intensity of flavor and piercing depth. The red cherries and plums run so deep and crescendo into an explosive, upbeat finish. Wow factor is high.
95 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
Brilliant garnet. Assertive red berry preserve, cherry and floral aromas are complemented by sexy Asian spice, incense and smoky mineral accents. Shows impressive depth and sharp delineation on the palate, offering spice-tinged red and blue fruit liqueur, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up candied rose and blood orange nuances with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip to lingering black raspberry and five-spice powder notes.
93 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
The 2018 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1993-1995. This iteration was made with 49% whole clusters and was aged 17 months in 55% new French oak. The nose offers concentrated cranberries and rhubarb, blood orange and violet with accents of tobacco and prosciutto. Medium-bodied, the palate is powerful, concentrated, firmly framed and fresh, and it finishes very long and flavorful. It’s enjoyable now if you love a fully fruited Pinot, or it will age well in the cellar over the next 3-5+ years. 814 cases produced. – 30 December 2020
92 Points – P.J.C Wine & Spirits
From blocks mostly planted on Jory soils in 1993, this has a subtly smoky whole-cluster scent, along with a fair bit of oak, but the fruit has a rhubarb lift, tart, pretty and suave, with fine mineral tannins. For cumin-spiced pork.
2017 Vintage
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.
94 Points – P.J.C Wine & Spirits
Louise is one of Cristom’s warmer, low-elevation sites, with both Jory soils and flood deposits on its lower slopes. The wine is sleek and warm, with scents of tar and black cherries, and bright flavors of cherry and red plum delivered with polished tannins. It could age for years; then serve with quail.
2016 Vintage
96 Points – Jamessuckling.com
This delivers an ethereal and fragrant impression on the nose with a bright, red-fruit theme that is framed in sweet spices and flowers. The palate has a strong array of ripe red cherries with sappy complexity and crisply defined tannins. Impressive tension here. Needs time. Try from 2021.
92 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
The 2016 Louise is at once earthier and more fruit-driven than the 2016 Jessie Vineyard (also recommended in this issue). Leading with floral notes, it’s deeply flavored yet precise, the tannins holding the wine in a demonstrative grip, lasting with a sous bois scent.
2015 Vintage
94 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Deep red. Expansive, spice-accented red fruit and spicecake aromas show excellent clarity and pick up suggestions of cola and sandalwood with air. Juicy, focused and appealingly sweet, offering intense black raspberry, cherry pie and five-spice powder flavors that tighten up steadily on the back half. Shows outstanding energy and clarity and finishes sappy and impressively long, featuring discreet tannins and an emphatic echo of juicy red fruit.” Drinking Window 2021-2028
94 points – Lisa Perotti Brown, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard has a savory, almost meaty nose over a core of Black Forest cake, red currants, mulberries, cardamom and fenugreek with a touch of potpourri. Medium-bodied, the palate has exquisitely fine tannins and a lively line of acidity supporting generous, multi-layered red berry preserves and spice, finishing with impressive persistence and depth.” Drink Date 2017-2024
93 points – JAMESSUCKLING.COM
“This pinot noir shows light tobacco, raspberries and orange skin. Hints of cedar, too. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a vibrant finish. Drink from 2020.”
2014 Vintage
95 points – Rusty Gaffney M.D., The Prince of Pinot
“Light cherry red color in the glass. The aromas of crushed cherry, spice, rose petal, pine sap and vanilla oil draw your nose into the glass. A perfectly ripe core of dark red cherry essence fills every nook and cranny in the mouth and really clings to the finish. There are nuances galore, including accents of cardamom spice, boysenberry juice and subtle oak spices. The wine has noticeable energy and enough tannin for the long haul. Even more giving when tasting the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle exhibiting dreamy balance.”
93 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Dark red. Ripe dark berry, cherry, incense and floral pastille scents are accented by a strong note of smoky Indian spices. Sappy and seamless in texture, offering juicy, densley packed black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter with air. Shows impressive depth as well as vivacity, finishing with powerful, spicy thrust, gentle tannic grip and striking persistence. This was the richest wine of my tasting of Doerner’s ’14s and looks to be a solid cellar candidate.”
93 points – JAMESSUCKLING.com
“Aromas of toffee, ripe fruit and chocolate follow through to a full body, soft tannins and walnut/hazelnut undertones. Soft-textured. Delicious finish.”
91 points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Scents of cedar and warm leather suggest an oak-driven wine, but with air a dark, mineral-inflected black plum flavor comes to the fore, accented by savory stem spice. Give this time in the cellar to knit and then serve with tea-smoked duck.”
2013 Vintage
94 points – “Cellar Selection”, The Wine Enthusiast
“Set at the top of Cristom’s excellent lineup, this lush, round and seducive wine is built upon ripe black-cherry fruit. It plays out broadly across the palate, open and smooth, wih nuances of cola, sandalwood and spice. Crisp, natural acidity keeps it lifted and lively.”
94 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Deep red. Hugely aromatic bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense and Asian spices, along with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sweet raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and elegance, finishing with harmonious tannins and remarkable clarity and length.”
91 points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Pretty and austere, this quiet pinot has a core of fruit held at some remove by its structure. The wine’s acidiy is elegant and pleasing, framing dusty cranberry flavors and a whole-cluster breadth to the texture.”
Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
- 2022 Vintage
- 2021 Vintage
- 2019 Vintage
- 2018 Vintage
- 2017 Vintage
- 2016 Vintage
- 2015 Vintage
- 2014 Vintage
- 2013 Vintage
2022 Vintage
97 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
97 Points & Editor’s Choice – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“The 2022 Marjorie Pinot Noir from Cristom was one of my two favorites of the bunch. Aging for 17 months on lees in 36% new French oak barrels, it pours a glimmering medium neon ruby core with a light purple rim. A more complex and robust wine than its siblings, sporting a nose that reveals an earthy and spicy bouquet featuring dark raspberry, boysenberry, anise, toasted clove, and dried rosemary. On the palate, the wine offers grippy tannins, vibrant lemony acidity, and a finish brimming with crushed black cherry and a medley of spices. A wonderful effort from winemaker Daniel Estrin. 665 cases produced. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. 2024-2034”
96 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
96 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
94 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
93 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
2021 Vintage
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2023
95 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
95 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
94 Points & Editor’s Choice – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
94 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
94 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“Planted in 1982, the estate’s oldest vines, this is a site that gives structure and length year in and year out… 2023 – 2035”
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
93 Points – Karen MacNeil, WineSpeed
17.5+ “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Very dark on the palate with plum-skin texture and high, vibrant acid…brooding fruit, juicy sweetness and warming spiciness. 2026-2035”
2019 Vintage
96 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Bright ruby-red. Assertive red berry, cherry, lavender and incense…”
96 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
“Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard offers scents of raspberry…”
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“There’s purity of fruit to this pinot with strawberry and floral aromas…”
94 Points, Editor’s Choice – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“This wine is from the estate’s oldest vines. Somehow, those…”
93 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
Really good even so young, the outstanding 2019 ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort by (the Cristom Team). Light smoky and flinty tones combine with baking spices, bright red fruits and red rose petals on the nose. The palate shows plenty of sour red fruits alongside orange rind, tobacco and freshly tilled soils. Finishing long, this outstanding effort really needs an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2021-2035
93 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
My second favorite from the Cristom line-up, this Pinot Noir sees 50% whole cluster fermentation and 48% new French oak barrels. Notes of red cherry, huckleberry, lemon oil, dried cedary herbs, and just a hint of sassafras, make up a complex and interesting Pinot Noir that is a joy to experience in the glass. It’s a touch leaner than its siblings and doesn’t hit you over the head with its luster. Crunchy red fruits and black tea flavors dominate the palate and ends with fresh acidity, medium tannins, and a wonderful finish. 519 cases produced. 2022-2030
92 points – Wine Spectator, Tim Fish
“Deeply structured yet light-footed, with slightly brooding blueberry and…”
2018 Vintage
96 Points – Jamessuckling.com
This has attractive red and blue-floral tones to the nose with fresh blueberry and cassis notes too. So much fragrance here. The palate holds a very plush and fleshy stance with ripe red cherry, dressed in sleek oak spice and tannin. Impressive clarity and depth here.
94+ Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
The 2018 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard is a lovely wine, opening slowly to rhubarb, blueberries and cured meats with earthy accents. The palate explodes with unexpected flavor, bowling me over with its concentrated layers of fruit, earth and spice. It has a silky, fresh frame and finishes long and layered. This was made with 48% whole clusters and aged 17 months in 67% new French oak and should age very well in the cellar. 513 cases were made.- 30 December 2020
94 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
Vivid magenta. Potent cherry, black raspberry and allspice aromas carry a sexy potpourri overtone. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated red and dark berry flavors that show excellent clarity and become more lively as the wine stretches out. In a rich yet energetic style, showing outstanding clarity and mineral lift on a long, seamless, floral-dominated finish.
91 Points – Wine & Spirits
Marjorie is one of Cristom’s oldest vineyards. Named for Paul Gerrie’s mother, this wine smells of bright cherry and cinnamon, the flavors full and firm, the whole-cluster elements and the oak combining for a guided, wood-driven finish.
2017 Vintage
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
An earthy thread here with more savory, herbal and gently spicy notes, as well as graphite. Latent red cherries, too. The palate has a very sleek and succulent feel with evenly cast, sturdy tannins that harness great length and depth. Powerful yet measured and all about the earth.
93 Points – Wine & Spirits
This wine starts out aromatically wild, with scents of crushed, dried violet petals and smoke. After a day it becomes elegant, with flavors of crushed plums infused with soft oak spice, lasting with a fine savor.
2016 Vintage
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Such impressive depth and grace here with a graphite-like, woody thread and abundant, rich, red-cherry and dark-berry aromas. Wild-herb nuances, too. The palate has a very concentrated core of ripe, smoothly rendered tannins with good density and exceptional balance. Approachable now, but will age well over the next eight to ten years.
95 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
Cristom wines usually reflect some sort of tension between smoky, whole-cluster spice flavors and firmly expressed, finely wrought fruit. This 2016, from Marjorie, an 8.5-acre site on the lower slopes of the property, reflects a generous vintage with a smoky, Volnay-like suppleness, a velvety texture and gentle persistence, like waves lapping on a lakeshore. It lasts like this for days after opening, the flavors delicate and complex as it mingles with air.
2015 Vintage
95 points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Brilliant red. Powerful red berry liqueur, Asian spice and incense aromas are brightened by a smoky mineral nuance that builds steadily in the glass. Sappy, sweet and penetrating in the mouth, offering vibrant raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors joined by lively five-spice powder and white pepper accents. Spicy and seamless on the finish, showing silky, harmonious tannins and superb, floral-dominated persistence.” Drink Window 2021-2028
94 points – Jamessuckling.com
“A wealth of flowers on the nose of this pinot noir such as roses, peonies and violets as well as red fruits in the red cherry and ripe cranberry spectrum. On the attack the beautiful acidity really surrounds the full-bodied palate with tangy fruit, but then the firm yet encompassing tannins come into play and ensure this finishes not just bright but really dense and structured. Delicious now but better in 2019.”
94 points – Lisa Perotti Brown, The Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard leaps from the glass with notes of cherry cordial, violets, rose hip tea and chocolate box plus wafts of forest floor and black pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate is tautly structured with firm, grippy tannins and a great backbone of lively acidity, finishing with lingering earthy notes.” Drink Date 2018-2015
2014 Vintage
96 Points – The Pinot File
“Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose offers a whole cluster delight of back cherry, rose petal, cinnmon, and exotic spice aromas. The whole cluster also embellishes the palate that features a mid-weight core of succulet, well-spiced cherry fruit that is flat-out delicious. Welcome balance with silky tannins and juicy acidity, finishing with a lengthy stream of spiced cherry and raspberry fruits. Even better the following day when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle showing more power and depth and an even more gorgeous finish.”
94 Points – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Vivid red. Sexy, intensely perfumed cherry, boysenberry and floral pastille scents are complemented by hints of cola, rhubarb and Asian spices.”
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“Lovely richness and decadence to this on the nose with plum, cholocate and violet charachter plus hints of violets. Medium to full bod, silky tannins and a savory finish. Hints of hazelnuts.”
91 Points – Paul Gregutt, The Wine Enthusiast
“This matches deep purple fruits to aggressive herb and stem flavors. The impression is that some percentage of whole clusters were included in the ferment. This definitely needs extra bottle age- put it away until 2020.”
2013 Vintage
93 Points – Paul Gregutt, The Wine Enthusiast
“This complex wine shows a whiff of stem from 37% whole-cluster fermentation, and quickly moves into a soft center, loaded with strawberry preserves. It coats the mouth, smooth and textural with graphite highlights. The tannins are substantial and suggest it’s worth tucking into the cellar for a few more years. Drink through 2020.”
93 Points — Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“Brilliant ruby-red. Exotic, highly expressive aromas of raspberry liqueur, Asian spices, cola and smoky minerals, with a swave floral overtone building in the glass. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry and spicecake flavors given spine by juicy acidity. A distinctly elegant, seamless Pinot Noir with superb finishing energy; the gentle tannins are quickly absorbed by the wine’s vibrant fruit. A standout of its vintage. Drinking window: 2019-2024.”
Paul Gerrie Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
2022 Vintage
98 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
97 Points & Editor’s Choice – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“The 2022 Paul Gerrie Pinot Noir showcases a gorgeous medium ruby hue with a delicate pink rim and spent 17 months on lees in 17% new French oak barrels, which adds a nuanced structure without overpowering the wine’s elegance. On the nose, you’ll find a vibrant bouquet of crushed Bing cherries, lemon thyme, crushed blueberries, tart cranberries, and just a smooch of dried purple flower petals. This Pinot Noir stands out for its refined balance and slightly more sophisticated structure compared to its siblings. The palate reveals crunchy tannins that suggest this wine will benefit from another year or two in the bottle to reach its full potential. The winemaking team at Cristom has once again delivered a Pinot Noir that promises to evolve beautifully with time, offering layers of complexity and a harmonious finish. 593 cases were produced. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. 2024-2034”
96 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
96 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
94+ Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
93 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
2021 Vintage
96 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2023
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
94+ Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
94 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“Well-crafted, seductive and lively…”
93 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“…The palate has a mouthwatering juiciness, with blue fruits, clove, cola and a minerality that turns between stoniness and spice. 2023 – 2035″
17.5+ “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Warm oak spice…Black cherry and black plum…Balanced, elevated acidity…Quite a bit of power here. 2025-2035”
2019 Vintage
97 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
“Paul Gerrie is the newest vineyard at Cristom, planted from…”
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2022
The Paul Gerrie Pinot Noir from Cristom comes from one of their younger estate plantings with vines that are close to 10 years old now. This will be a wine to watch for in the years to come from this outstanding vineyard. Scintillating notes of ripe black cherry, red raspberry candy, pencil shavings, wet tilled earth, clove, bergamot, and dried lavender flower leap from the glass. It’s velvety smooth and wonderfully integrated on the palate. A beautiful wine and one of the top two from my tasting with Cristom. Only 225 cases produced. 2022-2037
95 Points – Jamessuckling.com
“A perfumed nose of violets, wild raspberries, lemon zest, red tea,…”
94 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
“This outstanding 2019 Pinot Noir was named after Paul Gerrie, as…”
93 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
“Limpid ruby-red. Mineral-inflected red and blue fruits on the perfumed…”
91 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
This Pinot Noir sees 46% whole cluster and is aged in 25% new French oak barrels. Ripe wild strawberry, huckleberry, blood orange peel, dusty country road, and a touch of chard oak spill from the glass. Medium-bodied with lovely acidity and tannins, the mouthfeel is elegant and luscious. Red plum and blueberry dominate the palate with secondary flavors of lemon peel and dried herbs playing backup. A lovely wine. 201 cases produced. 2022-2029
90 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“This expressive cuvée captures the ebullience of wine made from young vines…”
2018 Vintage
94 Points – Jamessuckling.com
This has some earthy aromas, as well as dried red flowers, lightly leafy tones and a gently herbal edge. Complex pinot. The fruit aromas and flavors sit in the ripe red-cherry and red-plum zone. Smoothly rendered tannins and fresh acidity to keep the red fruit fresh across the finish.
93 Points – Vinous, Josh Raynolds
Bright magenta. Cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry and candied flowers on the smoke- and spice-accented nose. Pliant red and blue fruit, spicecake and cola flavors show very good depth as well as energy and back-end lift. The floral note repeats emphatically on a long, youthfully tannic finish that leaves cherry compote and allspice notes behind.
92 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
The 2018 Pinot Noir Paul Gerrie Vineyard comes from the youngest vines at Cristom, planted in 2014 and dry farmed. It was made with 46% whole clusters and aged in 50% new French oak for 17 months. Pale ruby, it offers bright licorice and spice on the nose with savory blackberry and rhubarb fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, savory and firm, with just enough soft freshness to lift the spicy finish. 189 cases were made. – 30 December 2020
2017 Vintage
94 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
Paul Gerrie is the latest vineyard to join the pantheon of what Cristom calls “the four ladies,” its estate vineyards. The wine is impressively complex for such a youngster: Steve Doerner’s whole-cluster regimen adds a turfy note and lush, resinous tannins to a resolutely red-plum-and-cherry mélange of fruit. Elegant and fine; for salmon.
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
An attractively fragrant nose with ripe dark cherries, cinnamon and orange rind, as well as some stony notes. Very focused palate that establishes good volume with ample dark cherries and fine, layered tannins. Drink over the next six to eight years.
92 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
This is a new cuvée from Cristom, from new vines planted in 2014. It was made with 54% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 64% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Paul Gerrie Vineyard has a nose of dusty earth, charcuterie, crushed black cherries, licorice and rhubarb with notes of turned earth and a spicy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied and über silky with restrained fruits, a grainy frame and seamless freshness on the spicy finish. 261 cases produced. – 23 April 2020
EOLA-AMITY HILLS CHARDONNAY
2022 Vintage
94 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
“…Delicious and a tad unbelievable as their entry-level bottling.”
94 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“The 2022 Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay spent 11 months on its lees in 20% new French oak barrels, followed by 5 months in stainless steel tank. Captivating on the nose with aromas of yellow pears, citrus, white gardenias, and sweet cinnamon sticks. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with lively acidity, showcasing a precise and well-structured profile. The core is vibrant, featuring racy acidity that elevates the mid-palate. The finish is focused and juicy, offering a delightful balance between citrus and sweet spice. Suitable for immediate enjoyment or cellaring, this wine promises to develop further complexity with age. 2400 cases produced. 2024-2034”
93 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
“…Refreshing and mouthwatering…a clean, elegant finish…”
93 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“…Well-driven and precise, with a vibrant core…and a focused, juicy finish.”
93 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
93 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
92 Points & The 30 Best Chardonnays for 2024 – Keith Beavers, VinePair
“…Stone fruit with an engaging, textured palate.”
91 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
“…Beautiful.”
2021 Vintage
93 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“What a pretty nose…Excellent texture and complexity…”
93 Points – OwenBargreen.com
“Coming from a host of great vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, this 2021 Chardonnay opens with salted cashew nut with peach and stony undertones on the nose. The palate is soft and is filled with lemon zest, brioche and wonderful tension that frames this outstanding value. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031”
93 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“Winemaker Daniel Estrin calls this wine on of tension and generosity…The palate is honeyed and shows that tension as well… 2023 – 2030”
92 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, April 2023
A lovely light to medium lemon core with a water rim in the glass. Spiced apples, fresh yellow flowers, sea breeze salinity, and toasted hazelnuts merge together wonderfully on the nose. Racy acidity and a lemony-herbal finish present themselves over the palate wonderfully.
2023-2030
91 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
91 Points – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
91 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
91 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
17.5+ “Superior” – Florencia Gomez, JancisRobinson.com
2020 Vintage
93 Points – Jermey Young, International Wine Report, September 2022
Starting off a bit flinty and reductive on the nose, which I adore in my Chardonnays, it displays a lovely medium lemon with a golden core in the glass. The nose pops with lemon-lime and fresh floral notes, while the palate brings flavors of yellow apple, ripe peach, and dried sage. I loved the mineral and fresh stone aspects on the mid-palate. It’s medium to full-bodied and features wonderful acidity and an interesting herbal aspect on the back of the palate. About 2000 cases were made. 2022-2030
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Inviting aromas of chamomile, fresh lemon and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Fresh and vibrant with a lot of energy and longevity. Drink or hold.
2019 Vintage
94 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
“The 2019 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills is characterized by broad, intense flavors foiled by tangy acidity. It offers aromas of apple pie, honeycomb, toast and white blossoms and is intensely flavored, ripe and textural, finishing with energetic freshness.”
93 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
A wonderful Chardonnay for the price point that spends 7 months in 20% new French oak and 4 months in tank, it explodes from the glass with aromas of yellow pear, lemon curd, grilled pineapple, and hints of freshly struck flint. Mouthwatering acidity, medium body, and a finish that goes on for ages make you come back for more. It has this wonderful herbal character on the back palate that made the wine (is) more interesting than I imagined it would be. (1,340) cases produced. 2022-2028
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Pretty aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, lemon tart and flint. It’s full-bodied, yet bright, with tangy acidity. Textured and fleshy. Some spice and hay notes to close.
92 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
Soft and generous on the mouth, this unveils ripe honeydew melon flavors alongside copious minerals and lighter pear, and green papaya tones. Finishing long, with a bright sense of salinity, savor in the short-term while the brightness impresses. Drink 2021-2026
92 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“Wonderfully floral on the nose, sappy and rich on the palate, this expressive wine is packed with flavorful fruits perfectly set against tangy acidity. White peach, Asian pear and a touch of lime combine on a full-bodied midpalate. The juicy fruit flavors energize the wine and set the taster up for sip after sip.” – December 2021
Patrick J Comiskey – Wine & Spirits Magazine
Toasty with a lean oak frame, this smoky chardonnay’s aromas are mildly oaked at first. But the flavors are refreshing, lean and balanced, with an oyster-shell duskiness that suggests a pairing with shellfish, particularly seared scallops. – October 2021
2018 Vintage
92 Points – Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills, aged 12 months in 31% new French oak, offers fresh orchard fruits with touches of almonds, white flowers and baker’s yeast. The palate is light-bodied but surprising with its depth of fruit, with soft freshness and a long, delicate finish. 956 cases produced. – December 2020
Best Buys from Year’s Best Oregon Chardonnays – Wine & Spirits Magazine
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91 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine
Restrained and delicate, this cool chardonnay leads with dry lemon-lime scents. With its tart green-apple flavor, lemon-rind lift and talc-like mineral tang, it’s a Chablis-like chardonnay for oysters.
LOUISE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
2022 Vintage
97 Points & Top 50 US Wine of 2024 – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
“…Brilliance, savoury and saline, it’s a thing of beauty.”
97 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
“…It has deeper concentration, fantastic tension, and linear drive on the palate…”
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“Pouring a luminous lemon-gold core with a watery rim, the 2022 Louise Vineyard Chardonnay by Cristom spent 11 months on its lees in 24% new French oak barrels, followed by 5 months in stainless steel tank. The nose is a captivating blend of baked apple, lime curd, dried chamomile, nutmeg, and wet stone, creating a complex aromatic profile. On the palate, it offers a vibrant and tangy experience, with lively acidity and a crisp finish. While enjoyable now, this Chardonnay will benefit from another year in the bottle to allow its flavors to integrate and mature fully. A little over 100 cases made. 2025-2033”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
94 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
“…Long and loaded with zesty tension…”
93 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide, August 2024
2021 Vintage
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“An opulent and showy Chardonnay even in its youth…plenty of texture and depth…real sophistication… 2023 – 2032”
95 Points – OwenBargreen.com
“The exceedingly good 2021 Cristom Vineyards ‘Louise Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning effort from this warm vintage in the Willamette Valley. Chardonnay was planted in the lower part of this site which was first planted back in 1993. It is nicely concentrated but also very nicely poised. Kumquat rind, Japanese pear and honeydew melon flavors combine with shades of hazelnut topped shortbread on the palate. Only 100 cases made of this brilliant Chardonnay. Drink 2023-2035”
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, April 2023
“Shimmering lemony gold in the glass, this Louise Vineyard Chardonnay from Cristom is scintillating on the nose – think notes of baked pear, lemon curd, dried herbs, allspice, and wet white clay. Tangy and tart on the palate and the finish, give this another year in the bottle before enjoying it as it’s still a baby. 2024-2032”
94 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
94 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com “Very pretty nose…with elegant and light-footed layers…”
94 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
93 Points & #83 Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2023 – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
Gold Medal, 2023 TEXSOM Awards
2020 Vintage
94 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, September 2022
A dead-ringer for a lovely Premier Cru Chablis, the 2020 Louise Vineyard Chardonnay from Cristom opens with aromas and flavors of ripe yellow peach, yellow wildflowers, and dried sage, then moves to additional components of dried lime zest, freshly struck flint and blanched hazelnuts. Mouthwatering acidity, a medium body, and a lovely citrus finish complete the wine. Yellow wildflowers, ripe yellow apple, flint, a hint of lime zest, dried sage. Enjoy this one over the next decade. 2022-2032
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Aromas of hazelnut, baked lemon and fresh thyme. Medium-bodied with apple puree on the palate. Hints of straw and nutmeg. Tight, creamy texture. Drink now.
2019 Vintage
94+ Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks
“The 2019 Chardonnay Louise Vineyard is scented of white peaches, spring honey and hazelnuts, which seem in 2019 to capture the alluring essence of just-ripe Willamette Valley Chardonnay, tinged with tones of graphite and mushroom powder. The palate is youthfully citrusy and tangy, gaining volume and depth on the extended, honeyed finish. That racy acidity will help this age gracefully, and it will benefit from 2-3 more years in bottle.”
93 Points – Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
I have never tasted this single vineyard bottling from this site that was first planted back in 1993. Nutmeg dusted brioche and roasted hazelnut with earthy tones all fill the nose. The palate is fresh with gobs of lip-smacking acidity. Layers of salted French bread, lemon zest and kumquat rind all combine with lighter damp earthy accents on the palate. Finishing long, this is a sensational and bright style of Chardonnay that will cellar well over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029
93 Points – Jamessuckling.com
Aromas of apple pie, ripe apricots, yellow nectarines, salted butter and butterscotch. It’s full-bodied with lively acidity and concentrated, textured layers. Bright and firm finish.
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt
“This wine is from a vineyard that sports 25-year-old Dijon clones. The flavors range from citrus to peach to pineapple, with bright natural acidity heightening the impact. It’s crystal clear, fresh and crisp, with a penetrating finish that brings a touch of wet stone.” – December 2021
92 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
Coming from old vines planted in 1993 and aged for 11 months in 20% new French oak, this Chardonnay delivers racy acidity and notes of green apple, lemon zest, underripe pineapple, a touch of clove, and crushed stone. A wine that sees full (malolactic) fermentation but delivers a Chablis-like structure and finish. I’d give this a few more years in the bottle to allow everything to come together and then enjoy over the next 8 years. Only 5 barrels produced. 2023-2031
2018 Vintage
92 Points – Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
Aged in 20% new French oak for 12 months, the 2018 Chardonnay Estate has a perfume of quince and citrus with notes of dried flowers, beeswax and hazelnuts. The light-bodied palate is silky and fresh with gently honeyed fruits and an energetic, mineral-driven finish. 97 cases were made. – December 2020
Royer VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
2022 Vintage
96 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
“…Delicious.”
95 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
“…This is another age-worthy wine to enjoy over the coming 10 years.”
95 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“Another gorgeous Chardonnay from winemaker Daniel Estrin, this one the 2022 Royer Vineyard that rested for 11 months on its lees in 76% new French oak barrels, followed by 5 months in stainless steel tank. It presents itself as a refined and nuanced wine. Initially offering a subtle reductive note with a hint of volcanic rock, it opens up to reveal a bouquet of honey-glazed apple, caramelized citrus, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of elderflower. On the palate, the wine displays excellent acidity and a vibrant tension, with flavors of ripe stone fruits and delicate baking spices emerging on the front and mid-palate. This Chardonnay finishes with a smooth, lingering complexity that promises further development with age. 107 cases made. 2024-2034”
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, August 2024
93+ Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, August 2024
“…wickedly fresh yet still impactful, with silken textures…”
2021 Vintage
95 Points – OwenBargreen.com
“The ‘Royer Vineyard’ is located southwest edge of the Eola Hills. This 15 acre site is planted to Riesling and Chardonnay. This 2021 Chardonnay is a deep and concentrated wine that is irresistible in its youth. Heady, and laden with its core of starfruit, Pink Lady apple and baking spice and buttered French bread flavors, it is a stellar wine to consume right now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035”
94 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
“Slightly reductive on the nose with a lovely flint note to start, it quickly reveals aromas and flavors of honey-coated pear, grilled citrus, toasted tree nuts, and acacia flower. It delivers terrific acidity and tension throughout while finishing with ample stone fruit and baking spice characteristics on the front and mid-palate. 2023-2031”
93 Points & Editor’s Choice – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
93 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
93 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“…lots of tension and texture. Vibrant acidity, too…”
91 Points – Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
17+ “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“Light and elegant oak use…High, linear acidity…”
SEVEN SPRINGS VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
2022 Vintage
96 Points – Jeremy Young, International Wine Report, August 2024
“I loved the 2022 Seven Springs Chardonnay from Cristom that was aged for 11 months on its lees in 36% new French oak barrels, followed by 5 months in stainless steel tanks. Showcasing a medium lemon-gold core with a shimmering silver rim, it’s a vibrant and lively Chardonnay characterized by an enticing array of white floral and dried sage notes, adding freshness and energy with every sip. Medium-bodied and juicy throughout, it bursts with aromas and flavors of lemon citrus, underripe apricot, and white peach, complemented by crushed herbs and savory undertones. The palate is delicate and silky, leading to a deliciously smooth finish. Just 153 cases made. Highly recommended. 2024-2034”
95 Points – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter, August 2024
“…Fleshy yet fresh…the saline minerality carries through on the palate.”
95 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2024
“…It’s electric on the palate…Fantastic.”
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“…Delicate and silky with a delicious finish…”
2021 Vintage
96 Points & Top Five 2021 Willamette Valley Chardonnays – Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
“A revelatory Chardonnay… This wine has outstanding freshness and filigreed elegance that complement the depth and character of the site and the astute winemaking technique…2023 – 2037”
95 Points – Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
95 Points – OwenBargreen.com
“The famed ‘Seven Springs Vineyard; was founded back in 1982 as this site is set on ancient volcanic soils. This is a very nervy and tension-filled Chardonnay once on the mouth, showing a delicious set of melon and citrus fruits. With more air the stony and flinty tones become more evident as this is drinking beautifully right now and will surely provide drinking enjoyment for another decade or more. Drink 2023-2035”
94 Points – JamesSuckling.com
“…Full-bodied and generous, and yet held together by a citrusy acidity…”
94 Points – International Wine Report, Jeremy Young
“Notes of dried hay, yellow peach, baked cinnamon, and some dried tropical fruit notes make this wine, from one of my favorite Oregon vineyards, an enjoyable and scrumptious Chardonnay. A full body mouthfeel, luscious lemony acidity, and lengthy finish complete the wine. Better in 2024 and then enjoy over the next 8 years. 2024-2032”
93 Points – Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
92 Points – Eric Guido, Vinous Media, January 2024
17.5 “Superior” – Samantha Cole-Johnson, JancisRobinson.com
“…Dusty mineral nose…musky and spicy and impactful on the palate…a lingering depth of flavour and appetising saltiness. 2023-2027”
92 points –Wine & Spirits Magazine, Reviewed August 2020RECENT PRESS & ARTICLES
TASTY EXPECTATIONS – CRISTOM CHARDONNAY EOLA-AMITY HILLS 2019
Ms Ron Edwards
September 2021
