Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard 08

Winery: Cristom

See all in-stock Oregon 2008 vintage Pinot noirs

Tanzer 94 points

Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard 07 -

Plush blackberries and black raspberries tinged with cream and coffee in the nose signal that this is a bigger, softer wine that the other 2007's from Cristom. Smooth, richly textured, and brimming with mulberry, blackberry, and currant/licorice flavors, it finishes long and seamless. - Jean

A crowd pleaser, ready to drink with big body and cellaring potential as well.

Steve Doermer is a winemaker's winemaker. Ask the best winemakers from Oregon's first generation of iconic wineries who they drink, and chances are, they'll say Cristom.

Steve releases his wines late, so this 2007 is his current vintage. As with most of his wines, it will cellar beautifully. The most forward Pinot noir he made in 2007, it is drinking beautifully now, in March of 2011.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot noir 06 ripens earliest of the winery's single vineyard Pinots. The 2006 shows aromas of black berries, currants, plum, and black raspberry. Ripe black fruit prevails in the flavors, with toast, vanilla, cinnamon, cola and bittersweet chocolate adding complexity. A big Pinot, it is rounded and ready to enjoy. Structure and balanced acidity allow the 2006 Louise to be cellared for 4-6 years.

MORE INFORMATION

2003 Vintage Tasting Notes

Winemaker's notes: "The 2003 Louise is a medium ruby colored Pinot Noir has great complex aromas of. blackberries, raspberries, currants and pomegranates along with hints of cinnamon and cloves. The palate bursts with fresh ripe fruit along with just a touch of earthiness. This is a very well balanced wine that has just enough acid to make it seem juicy. The tannins are ripe and smooth but there are enough of them to warrant additional ageing for quite a few years." -Steve Doerner, Winemaker

From the winery: "This is the oldest of our estate Pinot Noir vineyards that we began planting in 1993 to new clones and at high density. It is a selection of our favorite barrels from the vineyard. The vineyard now consists of Dijon clones 113,114, and 115 along with the Pommard clone all planted at 2300 vines to the acre. The site has a southeast slope and is comprised primarily of Ritner soil which is volcanic in origin."

2002 Vintage Tasting Notes

This 2002 vintage as a big, rich, garnet colored Pinot Noir has deep aromas of very ripe blackberries, plums, and black cherries along with hints of chocolate and toasted oak. The flavors are very rich and complex with lots of sweet ripe fruit, including cassis and blackberries along with vanilla from the oak. This wine has a silky smooth texture with fine tannins and firm acidity to match. Although this is a relatively big extracted wine, there is no mistaking it's Pinot Noir silkiness. It should age gracefully for a decade or more. Steve Doerner, Winemaker