Winery - Cristom
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
High density plantings, select clones, native yeasts—Steve Doerner is as dedicated a winemaker as you will ever meet. This wine validates his efforts; it’s a delicious, textural, varied and satisfying effort. The wine plays with the palate, offering layers of stone, fruit, acid, herb, spice and skin that mix and mingle easily.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dark in color, almost pure purple; the bouquet carries some heavy oak, with aromas of toast and vanilla. It’s also a little sauvage. Rich and chocolaty, but also quite sweet. It’s deep and woody overall—the vanilla and oak are very prominent, maybe too much so for many people.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A tight, rich, dense package, wrapped in just the right amount of French oak. Black cherries are blended with foresty aromas and a dark earthy richness reminiscent of humus. It’s all capped by wonderfully vivid and balanced acidity that gives a little extra length to the chocolate-cherry finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Silky and refined. It’s on the lighter side, but shows no lack of flavor and may be even prettier for its ephemeral nature. Shows cherries, tree bark and a touch of cranberries and bitter chocolate on the finish. Drink soon for its youthful charms.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Earth and cola notes accent a true Burgundian nose of rustic raspberry and herbs. This is a stylish, reserved wine—one that sits nicely on the palate and glides down smooth while still holding its cards tight to the vest. It should blossom and soften in about three or four years; now it has everything going for it.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A gorgeous, classic Oregon Pinot nose is your introduction to this lovely wine. Sassafras, mint and soft cherry fruit lead into a spicy, sassy, somewhat tannic wine with elements of fruit, wood and oak all intermingled.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Deep and plummy, with a sweetness to the fruit but not much spice. A nice cherry core of fruit dominates, with young, smoky oak providing the backbone.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Cristom’s 2003 reserve is a blend of grapes from nine different vineyards. Supple and concentrated, it beautifully mixes raspberry, blackberry and cherry flavors with hints of earth and chewy, tea-leaf tannins. Excellent grip, weight and length; slowly but surely some pretty mocha flavors suffuse the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
These are lighter, less ripe flavors—pomegranate, rhubarb, salmonberry—but nicely turned in this warm vintage. Some cinnamon spice sweetens the naturally earthy, green tea tannins.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Deep cherry and spice aromas, with some forest notes to add complexity. Some sour-cherry and black-pepper accents to the palate—fine depth of flavor here. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel and a lovely finish. Very solid wine; should be super in 2 years.
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