2017 Louise Pinot Noir
Buying options
Tasting notes
Planted in 1993, Louise Vineyard was named for Cristom winegrower and owner Tom Gerrie’s great-grandmother, Louise Dinkelspiel. The lowest-elevation Pinot Noir planting on the Cristom estate, Louise Vineyard can be distinctly separated into an 'upper' and 'lower' section, divided by a 150 ft (46 m) slope. Because of this unique topography, Louise typically has both some of the earliest and latest fruit harvested each year. Biodynamically farmed 49% whole clusters of hand-harvested and hand-sorted fruit ,100% ambient-yeast fermentations, 1–3 punchdowns daily in 1- to 5-ton open-top fermenters. Undergoes full malolactic conversion in barrel. Fined with egg whites, unfiltered. 18 months in French oak, 66% new. TA 5.5 g/l, pH 3.7. Mid to light ruby with a soft pink rim. Sweet and spicy red fruits – cranberry and redcurrant. More savoury than sweet on the palate, though the red fruits push through. Powerful and a little warming on the palate. Deep in fruit, smoothly tannic, gently chewy. Good length. Needs time. (JH)
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard was made with 49% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 66% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby, it has a pretty nose of dried lilac and lavender, dusty earth, saline, rhubarb and cranberry with amaro accents and a savory undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied and silky with slowly blossoming flavor layers and a finely knit frame, finishing long and minerally with juicy acidity to lift. This is a more serious style that will require a couple more years in bottle to fully come into its own. 701 cases produced.
Vivid red. Expansive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and baking spices, with a smoky mineral topnote that gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on an impressively long finish that's shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.
This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. Thereâs a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.