2022 Cristom "Jessie" Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Jessie Vineyard, named after founder Paul Gerrie’s great-grandmother, is the steepest and most dramatic of Cristom’s estate sites, rising from 300 to 600 feet on the eastern side of the Eola-Amity Hills. Planted in 1994 to a diverse selection of Pinot Noir clones, the vineyard’s volcanic basalt soils (primarily Nekia and Jory) and southwestern exposure yield fruit of natural intensity and vibrancy.

The 2022 vintage was shaped by a cool, extended growing season with excellent hang time and low disease pressure—ideal for Pinot Noir. The fruit for Jessie was hand-harvested and vinified using native yeasts, with approximately 50% whole-cluster inclusion, a hallmark of Cristom’s style that adds aromatic lift, structure, and complexity. The wine was aged for 17 months in French oak barrels (around 40% new) before bottling without fining.

The result is a Pinot Noir of both power and elegance. The 2022 Jessie shows expressive red and dark fruits, floral lift, and a savory, earthy core. Its tannic framework and natural acidity give it a poised, vertical structure that will evolve beautifully over the next 10–15 years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Cristom Vineyards is one of the most respected and consistent producers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, known for combining traditional Burgundian techniques with a deep understanding of Eola-Amity Hills terroir. Founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie and now led by second-generation winemaker Tom Gerrie alongside winemaker Daniel Estrin, Cristom farms all estate vineyards organically with a commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

The estate’s four main Pinot Noir vineyards—Jessie, Eileen, Louise, and Marjorie—are all named after Gerrie family matriarchs and planted on diverse volcanic soils. Each is dry-farmed and meticulously managed to emphasize site character. In the cellar, Cristom’s approach blends classic whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and restrained oak usage to preserve freshness, structure, and aromatic precision.

The Jessie Vineyard bottling is typically the most brooding and structured of the lineup—an expressive and age-worthy Pinot Noir that captures both the strength of the site and Cristom’s refined winemaking touch.