Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Eileen Vineyard is Cristom's highest site in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon's Willamette Valley, and its elevation and cool exposure give a darker, more structured Pinot Noir than the estate's lower vineyards. Cristom, run by Paul Gerrie, winemaker Steve Doerner and grower Mark Feltz, holds LIVE certification, farms fully sustainably and makes wine with minimal intervention. The Willamette Valley is a cool, marginal climate that ripens Pinot Noir slowly over a long season and keeps acidity firm, while the Van Duzer corridor channels cold afternoon winds through the hills, thickening the skins and deepening colour and tannin. The volcanic basalt soils give a fine mineral line. At 13.6 percent this is a fuller expression of the site. Whole cluster fermentation with native yeasts and barrel ageing build savoury, spiced complexity and integrate the tannins through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is deep, bright red. The nose shows red and dark cherry and plum with forest floor, dried herbs and pepper. The palate is medium to full bodied, with fine but firm tannins, vivid acidity and a long, savoury, mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees in a large glass. It suits roast duck, game and beef.