2021 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard

I was excited to trudge through vineyards and charge up muddy terrain to dig through soil pits on a windswept hill during my recent trip to Cristom. Fully understanding the diverse terroir throughout their vineyards is something that owner Tom Gerrie and winemaker Daniel Estrin take very seriously. Cristom Vineyards oversees 240 acres spanning from 200 to 735 feet in elevation, with 90 acres planted to vines, all using biodynamic principles. Estrin explained, “We don’t believe in certifications.” His response was to my inquiry about regenerative agriculture. The reality is that other than periodic tilling, Cristom Vineyards operates very much like a regenerative farm, with its own herd of sheep and plans to introduce more livestock over time. This is all part of what Tom Gerrie describes as their “100-year plan”. As for the wines, we explored the 2021 vintage, which Gerrie describes as “one of the top vintages we’ve made here within our thirty years of vintages at Cristom.” I can’t argue, considering the quality I found within each wine. The 2021s at Cristom are classic to the core, with crunchy tannins and a balance of acidity that will carry them for many years on a steady path to maturity. In some cases, they are already accessible, yet waiting is definitely advised. The portfolio is especially terroir-driven, with whole cluster fermentation varying depending on the site and low-ish amounts of new oak averaging in the mid-thirties, with the Paul Gerrie Vineyard Pinot Noir seeing as much as 45%. The team at Cristom has their eye on the future, with a progressive mentality and open-mindedness that will keep them at the head of the pack.