95 Points Wine Spectator
This impressive Pinot is polished and detailed, offering dynamic flavors of raspberry and blueberry, with mineral and brown baking spice hints that build richness toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035.
 
95 Points James Suckling
Very firm, focused and concentrated, showing pure black cherries and blackcurrants on a lively frame of nervy acidity and moderate tannins. Mouthwatering acidity, with fruit expanding on the palate and spices like cloves and cinnamon developing. Drink now or hold. 
 
Winemaker Notes
Cristom’s flagship Pinot Noir, “Mt. Jeff,” embodies Cristom’s hallmark style, marrying whole cluster and native yeast fermentations. It's the first Pinot Noir of the vintage to be crafted after multiple tastings of every individual barrel and defines the best of the Eola-Amity Hills.
The 2023 vintage comprises an impressive 77% Cristom Estate fruit from our world-class vineyards—Paul Gerrie, Eileen, Louise, and Jessie—and is complemented by benchmark vineyard sites in the Eola-Amity Hills. This marks the highest percentage of estate fruit in Cristom’s 29 vintages of crafting this iconic wine!
The cuvée represents a diverse array of soil types, elevations, and aspects, further shaped by coastal winds and volcanic geology. These factors add to the character, fruit, and structure that give "Mt. Jeff" its well-deserved reputation as one of the most stylistically consistent Pinot Noirs in the world.
Winemaking: 45% whole cluster and native yeast fermentations. Aged 11 months in 26% new French oak barrels. Unfined, unfiltered. 13.5% ABV
Tasting Notes: A fresh, wild, and savory expression with vibrant acidity and an elegant structure. Earth-laced fruit aromas of blackberry bramble, dark cherry, and huckleberry seamlessly intertwine with savory hints of curry leaves and lobster mushrooms, accented by subtle notes of dried orange peel and baking spices. Earthy and floral elements—forest floor, conifer needles, and rose hips—carry through to the palate, beautifully integrated with effusive raspberry and cherry notes, leading to a long, spicy finish.
Aging Suggestions: Drinking well now and can age until 2035 or longer.
Suggested Pairing: Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens