Winemaker Notes
Established in 1993, Louise Vineyard is named for Cristom Winegrower and Owner Tom Gerrie's great-grandmother. Planted to the lowest slopes of the Cristom estate, Louise Vineyard is one of the most geologically complex sites on the farm. A microcosm of the diversity of soils in the Eola-Amity Hills, Louise is predominantly planted over a range of volcanic soils and is the only vineyard site on the estate that is also influenced by Missoula Flood Silts further contributing to the intensity and complexity of fruit. Protected by a small forest to the west and south, Louise is more sheltered from the cold Pacific Ocean winds than the other estate vineyards, helping to soften the focused acidity in the wines. Collectively the vines stitched into the Louise Vineyard hillside are now the oldest at Cristom - more than 26-years-old - helping to bring balance, grace and a greater sense of place to the single vineyard wine.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also pouring a deep ruby hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard is floral and fruity initially on opening and has a delicate warming feel, with notes of cardamom, Asian spice, mixed red and black berries, wet stone, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, it’s generous and inviting right out of the gate, although it will do well over the coming 8-10 years and should develop more umami richness and savory nature. Right now, it’s rather primary, although it’s well-balanced and has a great finish, with velvety tannins and even-keeled acidity.
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James Suckling
Very pretty nose of jasmine, white rosemary, acacia, white peaches, pears, pie crust, cloves and lemons. Aromatically complex, with elegant and light-footed layers. Medium-bodied. Tight and bright.
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Wine Enthusiast
My favorite Louise since Tina spent 18 months on lees in French oak, 38% new. Dark, rich aromas and flavors of Bing cherries wrapped in bittersweet dark chocolate are accented by bits of mint and cedar. Silky tannins and lively acidity are in harmony with the fruit and alcohol, providing a crisp, clean mouthfeel.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Running north to south, adjacent to the Willamette River, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA has shallow and well-drained soils created from ancient lava flows (called Jory), marine sediments, rocks and alluvial deposits. These soils force vine roots to dig deep, producing small grapes with great concentration.
Like in the McMinnville sub-AVA, cold Pacific air streams in via the Van Duzer Corridor and assists the maintenance of higher acidity in its grapes. This great concentration, combined with marked acidity, give the Eola-Amity Hills wines—namely Pinot noir—their distinct character. While the region covers 40,000 acres, no more than 1,400 acres are covered in vine.