The 2008 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard is dark ruby red bordering on light purple. It surrenders an aromatic array of balsam wood, rose petal, Asian spices, tobacco, and assorted black fruits. Medium-bodied, dense, and crammed with succulent black fruits, it is already revealing some complexity, but there is more to come with another 3-4 years in the bottle. It, too, will deliver prime drinking from 2013 to 2023.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, continuity and consistency are the keys to Cristom’s success. The winemaking team led by Steve Doerner rose to the occasion, taking full advantage of the great raw materials provided by the 2008 vintage.
Tel. (503) 375-3068; www.cristomwines.com