2021 Cristom AVA Series Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

Cristom Vineyards is based in Salem, Oregon. It was founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie, an engineer with a taste for Burgundy. He and his family moved to Oregon to make Pinot Noir and their debut commercial wine was the 1992 vintage. Gerrie his wife and adult children run the 65-acre estate. Steve Doerner is winemaker. Cristom is known for its estate Pinot Noir, but also makes Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier and Syrah. The wines earn compliments from critics and scores in the mid-90s.

Dundee Hills AVA is in Yamhill County, and it is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon’s best known appellation. Dundee Hills is about 30 miles southwest of Portland, and has 1,300 vineyard acres. It was awarded AVA status in 2004 and, like much of Oregon, is known for Pinot Noir. Several of Oregon’s 20th century wine pioneers established their vineyards and wineries in Dundee Hills, adding to its status as a region long-recognized for producing high quality, iconic Oregon wines. Eyrie Vineyards, Erath Winery and Sokol Blosser remain some of Oregon’s most celebrated producers, and all were founded in what is now Dundee Hills in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.