I've been really pleasantly surprised at how well my small stash of old Cristoms, bought at the winery 12 or so years ago, have held up. This was a beautiful, balanced pinot, with a nice balance of savory and fruit elements. Drank with friends over a nice dinner, so no detailed notes taken, but this was an impressive bottle.
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I can't believe a New World Pinot - exceptional at 12 years old! Beautifully balanced, earth and fruit and alcohol in perfect alignment. What a delight. If you have some of this drink it NOW. It may hold up for a year or two, but it is drinking perfectly at the moment. LONG, interesting finish. Wish we had another case of this stuff!
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Stunning wine. Big earth notes right away - chalky, dusty, forest floor, mushroomy... all that good organic stuff. Vibrant acidity flawlessly balanced with well integrated tannins. Long mineral finish - very elegant and simply gorgeous. This was the Gold medal winner in a batch of 2002 Oregon Pinots we tasted for me. Drinking perfectly right now, but would stand up to another 3-5 years I imagine.
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From magnum, this wine was starting to show its age in a good way. Really elegant at this stage with oak fully integrated and tannins subsiding. Just a great balance of red fruits with a bit of earthiness and some secondary nuances emerging. This was understated and great. Maybe more upside as it starts showing more aged nunaces. Several more years if you want to. 92-93. A hit all around.
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Nice sappy dark fruit. Tannins and oak have faded and fruit has come forward. Sappy dark fruit with some menthol/eucalyptus. Very nice and mature. Drink in next 2-3 years. Nice.
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This bottle seemed young. Drinking well and tasting near peak. Some nice acidity, fruit, stemminess. Great wine as usual, but not showing everything its capable of. More air perhaps or another year.
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91-92. Still needs air to shine. This bottle tasted young and needed air to fill out and come forward. Great balance on day 2. Thinner and more tannic on day 1. Very good.
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Better after some air. Nice oaky subtlety and great balance after a bit of air. Has held well. Can hold for a few more years, but would drink now with short decant.
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France vs. West Coast (Vancouver, WA): Gorgeous and powerful nose of dill, smoke, flowers, and red fruits. Lush and silky on the palate with beautiful balance and complexity.
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Very bright ruby color. Elegant and balanced all around. Lush notes of raspberries, cola and leather. Palate is medium bodied showing a nice finish with some decent tannic grip for a pinot - yet the tannins remain balanced with the acidity and alcohol levels. I recommend this wine and would most likely do the same for the rest in their single vineyard portfolio.
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Beautiful earthy, stemmy background to a river of piquant red fruit. Stylish and elegant but with nerviness beneath the surface. Very pretty without being light or understated. Very nice stuff. Lots of life to it as well.
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Unbelievebly balanced and elegant. Sweet restrained fruit, exotic spice, and tea leaves on the nose and palate. Not a fruit forward wine, more restrained but beautiful. Medium bodied and interesting drinking. 91-92 points. Drink now if you have it, its drinking so well, but will certainly hold out for some time.
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Beautiful pinot nose,dark ruby colored, medium weight with fresh dark berries on the palate. The wine is 14% alcohol and shows it in the finish, just a little too hot for me.With Paley's planked wild King salmon and wild rice it was a great match.
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1/4/2018 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 91 Points
I've been really pleasantly surprised at how well my small stash of old Cristoms, bought at the winery 12 or so years ago, have held up. This was a beautiful, balanced pinot, with a nice balance of savory and fruit elements. Drank with friends over a nice dinner, so no detailed notes taken, but this was an impressive bottle.
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12/27/2017 - chcook Likes this wine:
PNP. Cork perfect. Color bricking. This is mostly secondary and drinking beautifully. Has the characteristic 5 spice and not a rough edge. Drink
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1/31/2015 - christyspring Likes this wine: 93 Points
I can't believe a New World Pinot - exceptional at 12 years old! Beautifully balanced, earth and fruit and alcohol in perfect alignment. What a delight. If you have some of this drink it NOW. It may hold up for a year or two, but it is drinking perfectly at the moment. LONG, interesting finish. Wish we had another case of this stuff!
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3/12/2014 - chcook Likes this wine:
this was really great, but in the 375 format a real tease
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3/3/2013 - renapen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loam, mushrooms, and berries. Rich dark and took a little bit of time to open.
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6/18/2012 - Jack Cranley wrote: 93 Points
Stunning wine. Big earth notes right away - chalky, dusty, forest floor, mushroomy... all that good organic stuff. Vibrant acidity flawlessly balanced with well integrated tannins. Long mineral finish - very elegant and simply gorgeous. This was the Gold medal winner in a batch of 2002 Oregon Pinots we tasted for me. Drinking perfectly right now, but would stand up to another 3-5 years I imagine.
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8/23/2011 - rbaskin wrote:
Great wine - nose - fruit -finish; complex flavor palette
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2/26/2011 - winegr wrote: 92 Points
From magnum, this wine was starting to show its age in a good way. Really elegant at this stage with oak fully integrated and tannins subsiding. Just a great balance of red fruits with a bit of earthiness and some secondary nuances emerging. This was understated and great. Maybe more upside as it starts showing more aged nunaces. Several more years if you want to. 92-93. A hit all around.
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12/27/2010 - tom_wine wrote: 95 Points
Drinking in peak condition with rich, fruit forward flavors of dark cherries and a hint of cloves. Thick and unctuous with perfect balance.
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8/12/2010 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Nice sappy dark fruit. Tannins and oak have faded and fruit has come forward. Sappy dark fruit with some menthol/eucalyptus. Very nice and mature. Drink in next 2-3 years. Nice.
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11/26/2009 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
This bottle seemed young. Drinking well and tasting near peak. Some nice acidity, fruit, stemminess. Great wine as usual, but not showing everything its capable of. More air perhaps or another year.
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10/28/2009 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
91-92. Still needs air to shine. This bottle tasted young and needed air to fill out and come forward. Great balance on day 2. Thinner and more tannic on day 1. Very good.
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8/2/2009 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Smooth after a bit of air. Nice balance as always. Drining well and will for a few more years. needed a few minutes to blow off a slight vegetal note.
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7/29/2008 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
91-92. Excellent as always. Superb balance. Could have used a bit more air.
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6/29/2008 - babnik wrote: 89 Points
Rich and enjoyable. Well balanced for more aging but fine now with about 30 minutes in the decanter.
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6/1/2008 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Better after some air. Nice oaky subtlety and great balance after a bit of air. Has held well. Can hold for a few more years, but would drink now with short decant.
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5/3/2008 - kris.h wrote: 91 Points
France vs. West Coast (Vancouver, WA): Gorgeous and powerful nose of dill, smoke, flowers, and red fruits. Lush and silky on the palate with beautiful balance and complexity.
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3/3/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Very bright ruby color. Elegant and balanced all around. Lush notes of raspberries, cola and leather.
Palate is medium bodied showing a nice finish with some decent tannic grip for a pinot -
yet the tannins remain balanced with the acidity and alcohol levels.
I recommend this wine and would most likely do the same for the rest in their single vineyard portfolio.
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12/4/2007 - jimbomatic wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful earthy, stemmy background to a river of piquant red fruit. Stylish and elegant but with nerviness beneath the surface. Very pretty without being light or understated. Very nice stuff. Lots of life to it as well.
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5/3/2007 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Unbelievebly balanced and elegant. Sweet restrained fruit, exotic spice, and tea leaves on the nose and palate. Not a fruit forward wine, more restrained but beautiful. Medium bodied and interesting drinking. 91-92 points. Drink now if you have it, its drinking so well, but will certainly hold out for some time.
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8/11/2006 - RedCardRob wrote: 91 Points
As good as the last bottle of Cristom we had...wish i had more in my cellar, but this was the last one...
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5/27/2005 - speedmac wrote:
Beautiful pinot nose,dark ruby colored, medium weight with fresh dark berries on the palate. The wine is 14% alcohol and shows it in the finish, just a little too hot for me.With Paley's planked wild King salmon and wild rice it was a great match.
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