Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot noir 06 is made entirely from one section of Cristom's own estate vineyard. Less than 600 cases of the wine were made. While the wine was aged in 67% new oak, it is drinking well. A silky texture and mouthfeel surround a core of smooth tannins. It is a richly flavored Pinot noir, true to the varietal at its best.
"Cristom's 2006 Eileen Vineyard Pinot noir is a dark ruby colored wine with rich aromas of ripe blackberries, cinnamon, allspice, cedar and roasted coffee. The equally compelling flavors consist of raspberries, currants and a bit of a wild fruit or a briary component that gives an overall lift to the palate. Although the 2003 vintage was a bit warmer and drier than we typically see, the altitude of this vineyard helped to maintain the bright acidity that keeps this wine balanced. Although there is still some mouth coating tannins, this wine is drinking well now and should improve for 5 to 8 years." ~Steve Doerner
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
Wine Advocate rating 93 points! Wine Advocate says: "The star of the portfolio this vintage is the 2002 Pinot noir Eileen Vineyard. Bursting from the glass with dark fruit, spices and candied black cherries, it regales the taster with a harmonious, satin-textured core of fresh, wonderfully ripened black fruits. Deep, seamless, and revealing an angle-free, prolonged finish, this beauty is a candidate for drinking between 2005 and 2014."
Wine Spectator says: "My favorite of Cristom's 2001s comes from the highest portion of the estate vineyard in Eola Hills. This elegant, refined Pinot carries its ripe blackberry and currant flavors in a velvety package, with fine tannins letting the fruit and gently earthy flavors linger enticingly. Best from 2005 through 2011.-H.S."
Info about the 2001 vintage from the winery: "This is the second release of Pinot Noir from this estate vineyard. This is the youngest and probably the last of our estate Pinot Noir vineyards that we have developed. Starting around 700 feet in elevation, it is also our highest vineyard. We began planting it in 1997 to a variety of clones at a density of 2300 vines to the acre. It is a selection of our favorite barrels from the vineyard and consists of Dijon clones 114, 115 and 777."
WINEMAKER'S NOTES
The nose of this ruby colored Pinot Noir reminds of the way everything smells while enjoying a campfire. There are elements of earth, cedar, grilled meats and exotic sweet smoke from a variety of different woods on the fire. The flavors are a bit less reminiscent of camping, unless of course, you were to run across some wild gooseberries or happen to be near a Bing cherry orchard. The sweet and wild fruit flavors linger into the finish of this rich, youthful wine, which should loose some wilderness with additional aging.
Steve Doerner, Winemaker
