{"product_id":"cristom-viognier-eola-amity-hills-oregon-usa","title":"Cristom Vineyards Viognier Louise Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eCristom Vineyards was founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie on the slopes of the Eola-Amity Hills in the Willamette Valley. It has grown into one of Oregon's most respected and consistently awarded estate producers, appearing on the Wine \u0026amp; Spirits Top 100 list eleven times in twelve years. The estate is now led by Paul's son Tom Gerrie as owner and winegrower, with winemaker Daniel Estrin — an alumnus of Littorai and Craggy Range — at the helm in the cellar. In 1993, Cristom made history by being the first winery to plant Viognier in the Willamette Valley, doing so in the Louise Vineyard — named for Paul's maternal grandmother — on the lower slopes of the estate. This wine remains a singular expression of what the variety can achieve in a cool-climate Oregon setting.*\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTerroir:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eLouise Vineyard occupies the lower, warmer slopes of the Cristom estate, planted between 1993 and 2003 at elevations of 290 to 440 feet on a mix of Columbia River basalt and marine sediment soils — the most diverse soil profile on the property. Protected from the famously strong Van Duzer Corridor winds by a horseshoe of forest, the site collects and radiates warmth in a way that sets it apart from the windswept upper vineyards, allowing Viognier to ripen fully while the surrounding Eola-Amity Hills climate preserves the natural acidity that gives the wine its tension and length.*\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2022 Cristom Viognier Eola-Amity Hills is a deep, vibrant gold with rich color saturation — noticeably more intense in the glass than most Viogniers, hinting at the concentration and depth within. Intensely aromatic, it has a nose of orange blossoms, ripe peaches, apricots, and lychee, with hints of honeysuckle, acacia flowers, and freshly cut hay. The palate is full-bodied, lushly textured, and deeply concentrated, with flavors of ripe yellow peaches, apricots, and tropical fruits anchored by subtle saline minerality. The wine is aged in a combination of neutral French oak, stainless steel, and concrete eggs; this approach preserves freshness and tension, resulting in a palate that feels simultaneously rich and precise. Mouthwatering acidity brings the wine to a long finish, with fruit, floral, and herbal notes fading slowly into a clean, mineral close.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 points, Vinous:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Spicy and with a lovely herbal tinge, the 2022 Viognier Louise Vineyard blends young kiwi with lime zest and green apples. This is wonderfully perfumed with candied citrus, adding a lovely sweetness. Tart orchard fruits combine with zesty acidity, creating a push and pull of tension. It finishes with cheek-puckering freshness, leaving hints of mint and a mineral tang. Wow, this zesty effort is nearly impossible to put down.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 points, Wine Advocate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It has an intense, heady perfume of lychee, peaches, toasted meringue, pie crust and jasmine. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with pure, generous fruit. Its textural grip is balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, floral finish.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e🥩 Meat: Pan-seared halibut with brown butter and capers, roasted pork tenderloin with peach chutney, or lobster with drawn butter \u003cbr\u003e🥦 Vegetarian: Roasted butternut squash with sage and cream, saffron risotto with preserved lemon, or a Thai green curry with jasmine rice \u003cbr\u003e🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Gruyère, ripe brie, dried apricots, honeycomb, and Marcona almonds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverall Impression:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2022 Cristom Louise Vineyard Viognier is a rare thing — a genuinely serious American Viognier that delivers the variety's characteristic opulence while maintaining the freshness and precision of cool-climate Oregon fruit. From vines planted by the estate that introduced the variety to the Willamette Valley nearly 30 years ago, this is a wine of both historical significance and genuine quality. Serve at 50–54°F; drink now through 2028–2031.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol by Volume (ABV %) 13.5%\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFarming Practices:\u003c\/strong\u003e Certified LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) sustainable; estate-grown; dry-farmed; hand-harvested; vines planted 1993 and 2003 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer Name:\u003c\/strong\u003eCristom Vineyards \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOld World \/ New World:\u003c\/strong\u003e New World \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of Origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e United States \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape Varietals:\u003c\/strong\u003e Viognier 100% \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2022 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry, Full-Bodied White \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking Techniques:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-harvested estate fruit from vines planted 1993 and 2003; fermented and aged 6 months in a combination of neutral French oak barrels, stainless steel tank, and concrete egg; unfined and unfiltered\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePack Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContainer Style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glass bottle \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClosure Style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cork\u003cbr\u003e*from winery notes\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Classic Wine Imports","offers":[{"title":"2022","offer_id":42707038666850,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0030\/3962\/5276\/files\/IMG_6672_1d1c27f0-b145-42fe-a78c-8d55cbbf1fcc.jpg?v=1775760326","url":"https:\/\/binendswine.com\/products\/cristom-viognier-eola-amity-hills-oregon-usa","provider":"Bin Ends... Great Wine~Serious Savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}