Cristom, Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard 2021, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cristom Vineyards hangs its hat on a well-earned reputation for making exceptional Pinot Noir. Their rich track record of excellence is the result of a 20-year collaboration between 3 men – an engineer, a biochemist and a farmer – who are, first and foremost, stewards of the land. The winery cultivates 4 Pinot vineyards honoring family matriarchs. High density plantings and low yields guarantee ripe fruit with concentrated flavor. All Cristom estate wines are certified sustainable by L.I.V.E. The Jessie Vineyard, named for winegrower-owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother Jessie Summers, was established in 1994 after the Gerrie family saw great potential in planting a steep, east-facing hillside to a variety of Pinot Noir clones. Ranging in elevation from 320 ft to 550 ft (98 m to 168 m), this 11.53 acre (4.67 hectare) site is one of the steepest in Oregon, and the most challenging to farm on the Cristom Estate. Winemaking: 48% whole clluster. 100% native yeast fermentations. 1-3 punch-downs daily in 1-5 ton open-top fermenters. Gently pressed in pneumatic bladder press and moed to barrel by gravity. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 49% new oak.