Willamette 2022 Offer

From eight different sites in the Eola Amity Hills, winemaker Daniel Estrin learned how to make Chardonnay from Litorrai's Ted Lemon. Paul Gerrie makes up the bulk of this wine with Eileen and Louise. 100% barrel fermented Estrin uses a tactile approach to the lees inclusion in this wine. At the entry-level, this wine is still over-vintaged, which builds tension in the wine. Notes of tarragon and chipped flint frame the smoky grilled lemon aromatics. Stony flint streaks introduce the palate, green mangoes, and grilled lemon peel. Delicious and a tad unbelievable as their entry-level bottling. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills is a total pleasure on the nose, wafting up with notions of sweet spice, chamomile and ginger-tinged yellow apples. Round and supple, this possesses a core of juicy acidity that enlivens it's tart orchard fruits as a salty sensation forms toward the close. It tapers off with tension, cleansing and fresh, leaving a mineral twang and hints of sour citrus. Beautiful. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous

A bright medium yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills is elegant, with a juicy, decadent feel to its notes of sweet oak spice, delicate, floral perfume, wet stone, and fresh white peach. Refreshing and mouthwatering, it’s medium-bodied and crisp, with good ripeness of acidity and a clean, elegant finish. It’s going to age well over the coming 6-8 years. JEB DUNNUCK

Cristom is one of Oregon’s benchmark producers, crafting wines that express the unique character of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Their Chardonnay is a standout, combining energy, structure and finesse, with a Burgundian sensibility and a distinctly Oregon edge. Precision winemaking and thoughtful vineyard work define the house style.

The wild mint leaps from the glass at the outset, the Marjorie site was planted in 1982, on its own roots, replanted vine by vine starting in 2000. Aromatics of fresh spearmint, red bramble fruits and a tart spritz of blood orange complete the aromatic appeal. The tannins are substantial here and frame the wine's elegance with a structure that will enable some great ageing. It's a tough site to farm because of the spacing and the low pH. Tart red berries and a melange of dried scrub flavours meld into notes of blackberry and mint and a touch of white pepper to finish. (96) CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard comes from the only pre-existing vines the family acquired when they purchased the winery in 1992. A deeper magenta color, it's perfumed with seductive notes of violets, black raspberries, sweet herbs, and forest earth. The palate offers plenty of purity, and it has a fantastic, savory finish, with ripe tannins and even acidity. It's drinking well now, with a wide window for enjoying over the coming 15 or so years. (97) JEB DUNNUCK

Most diverse soils on the property the Louise is the only site without 100% volcanic soils. The warmest site on the property, protected from the Van Duzer winds from a horseshoe of forest is about radiance of warmth for winemaker Estrin. This site can get big fast, so he picks them a bit earlier than the others and has to pay attention to the extraction, exotic spice aromatics, Chinese five spice and Oolong tea. This is a bit more broad-shouldered and the tannins intimate that this will go the distance. The palate leans into savoury spice, with black tea, wild anise blackberries and mint. Brooding and elegant. (95) CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

From a vineyard the Gerrie family planted in 1993 that sits around the winery, the 2022 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard reveals a beautiful woodsy profile, with notes of mossy earth and higher-toned red fruit shining through, with cranberries, darker red fruits, and Asian spices. It has a chiseled structure, with fine compact tannins, a refreshing lift, and notes of tea leaf on its long finish. It's going to age with grace over the coming 20 years. (96) JEB DUNNUCK

favourite. The elegance overcomes the power of the site, with earth and forest floor aromas finishing the show. The palate is a marriage of ripeness with the savoury character and superb tannins that the vintage has given winemaker Daniel Estrin to work with. This is an ageable example of Oregon Pinot Noir with ripe berries, fresh bing cherry flesh and delicious notes of dried anise. (97) CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

A ripe ruby red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard displays a more savory profile. Coming from the winery's steepest vineyard site with a 33% grade, it has an elegant floral perfume of ripe berries, and the texture is supple, with ripe tannins and an approachable feel. It's well-detailed, with a cushion of approachability, but it's fully dry and has a savory undertone. Drink 2025-2040. (96) JEB DUNNUCK

Eileen is at the top of the hill, staring out towards the Coast Range. This wine is a picture of elegance, and the turbulence from the Van Duzer Corridor moves through the clusters and vines. It's satiny, with spiced aromatics, wild herbs and bright tart cranberries. The site's higher acids lift the silky mouthfeel, it comes together beautifully. Blue fruits, wild spearmint and Chinese five spice frame an elegance of red berries and pine bough freshness. The finish shows a sweetness of berries and a note of green peppercorn. (97) CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

A deeper and layered profile emerges in the 2022 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard, which comes from windswept site where the grapes get thick skins from the wind. It has a more woodsy profile, with savory saline, brothy feel, tea leaf, toasted spice, and black cherries. Drink it over the coming 15-20 years. (97) JEB DUNNUCK

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. (96) CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Paul Gerrie Vineyard offers more lifted, savory, and deep aromatics, with an almost Nebbiolo-like structure, with an angular feel to its notes of black raspberries, wild earth, and alpine forest herbs. It has angular bright acidity, as well as lots of tension and linear drive, a stony, salty, mouthwatering feel, coiled tannins, and a clean, savory finish. It needs time to unwind. Drink 2026-2046. (98) JEB DUNNUCK

A gorgeously bright and savoury Pinot Noir from this 24-ha parcel in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is done at 50% whole cluster. It's got pretty aromatics of savoury dried herbs, fresh mint, evergreen tips and early-season strawberries. The palate flashes a real depth of fruit with rich brambleberries, brightened by pine sap, smoked sea salt and sumac notes. A delicious coming together of the wine's rich fruit and mineral complexity. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Goodrich comes from marine sedimentary soils and was crafted with around 40% whole clusters. It has powerful, broody scents of red and black cherries, iron, mushroom powder and violet. The medium-bodied palate has a finely chalky texture and explosive, juicy fruit that lures you in for another taste. It becomes more complex and detailed as it opens in the glass ERIN BROOKES, Wine advocate

Deliciously ripe, the Mount Richmond site is secluded, sitting at the western end of the Willamette Valley with south-east-facing slopes. It's generously aromatic with Christmas spice and clove that lead to black and red berry fruits. The palate is lushly dark fruited, fleshy ripe cherries, hints of turned earth and umami and a wonderful wild anise note at the finish. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Mount Richmond, from marine sedimentary soils, has deep scents of raspberry and blackberry preserves, rose petals, mushrooms, aniseed and earth. The light-bodied palate features perfumed, spicy berry fruit. It has a silky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, nuanced finish ERIN BROOKES, Wine Advocate

From a historic site in the foothills of the Cascade Range and the Laurelwood District AVA, the aromas are soft and elegant, With sweet red berries, smoky rose petals, and notes of black tea. The palate is concentrated with ripe fruit, candied raspberries, black cherry flesh, and a finish of spicy black plums. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Five Mountain, grown on Laurelwood soils, is scented of raspberry, red cherry jam, cinnamon, mushrooms and orange peel. The light-bodied palate is silky and refreshing with understated, floral fruit and a long, spicy finish. ERIN BROOKES, Wine advocate

From a hillside vineyard, Clay Court is on top of Parrett Mountain comes a beautifully balanced Pinot Noir. Ruby red-hued with great floral elegance, showy notes of dusty red berries, and a gravelly minerality. The palate is fleshy, red-fruited and delicious; a squeeze of blood orange brightens the affair; it's followed on by tart cranberries, green tea leaves and an array of savoury dried herbs, finishing with tart cherries and a hint of minerality. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Clay Court, grown on volcanic Jory soils, has wonderfully spicy aromas of cinnamon, tea leaves, mossy bark and mushrooms complementing a core of raspberry and red cherry jam. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, spicy fruit. It's structured by fine, grainy tannins and bright acidity and has a long, bitters-laced finish. ERIN BROOKES, Wine advocate