A newer site on the Cristom Estate (planted in 2014) and named for its founder. In the windy part of the Eola-Amity Hills, this vineyard sits between 200-275m and is made with about 50% whole cluster, a favourite technique of winemaker Daniel Estrin. Dusty aromatics open the wine with gravelly minerality, wild red bramble fruits and a note of salty sea air. On the palate, that mineral tone continues. Red and black berry fruits compete with a distinct tone of salted blood orange pulp. Wild anise and dill bring a savoury finish to this elegant showing.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Paul Gerrie Vineyard is understated in the glass, wafting up with a dusty array of rose, autumnal spice and dried strawberries. Silky and supple, it floods the palate with ripe wild berry fruits and violet inner florals, gaining tension as fine-grained tannins slowly saturate. The 2022 closes in upon itself through the finish—primary, structured and intense yet still fresh. This is a powerful and youthfully inward rendition of Paul Gerrie, yet it has the balance to evolve beautifully over time. Bury your bottles deep and reap the rewards. In 2022, the team at Cristom brought the percentage of new oak down to 17%, which works wonders here. I expect this will warrant an even higher score down the road.