2007 Cristom Vineyards Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Jessie, named for Paul's paternal grandmother, is Cristom's steepest vineyard. It is the most diverse of the vineyards because it has the most variable soils and altitudes. The first release was the 1998 vintage.

Tasted with a year of bottle age, Jessie shows darker red fruits on the nose that mingle pleasantly with scents of tobacco leaf, plum and leather that reminded us of a new baseball glove. On the palate Jessie displays the classic Cristom texture that we would describe as ‘nervosity', meaning bright and lively with good structure. We tend to identify Jessie by the savory (towards rare beef), or floral notes (towards lavender), on the bouquet. More will be revealed with a few years in your cellar but don't be afraid to try a bottle the next time roast pork is on the menu.