J. Christopher is located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA in the northern Willamette Valley of Oregon and is a winery that produces Pinot Noir using traditional Old World techniques.
Owned by renowned German Mosel winegrower Ernest "Ernie" Loosen (owner of Dr. Loosen Estate), the winery produces small-lot, handcrafted wines from its own Appassionata Vineyard as well as long-standing partner vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
J. Christopher's philosophy is to produce Old World style, terroir-driven wines that emphasize focus, length and balance.
The Volcanic Cuvée is a selection of exceptional barrels from our partner vineyards in the Dundee Hills.
It showcases the flavoursome quality, purity of fruit and fine texture that characterises the deep red volcanic clay of these hills.
The 2018 is a superb example, with delicate floral fruit aromas, a silky texture and a structure of finesse.
Like all our wines, it has the depth and structure to age gracefully for many years.
2018 was also a very warm and dry year, ranking as the eighth hottest year on record.
However, it wasn't as hot as the past two years, and there were no extreme temperature spikes.
This resulted in a fairly balanced growing season with very little heat stress.
As in 2017, cool weather and some cleansing rain in September helped to slow the ripening process while retaining fresh acidity.
The wine is characterised by rich, dense but not overripe fruit flavours, supported by juicy acidity and fine, ripe tannins.
J. Christopher is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ernst "Arni" Rosen of Dr. Rosen, Germany.
Arni has had a passion for Pinot Noir all his life and in the early 1990s he realized there was something special here in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
He became an avid collector of Oregon Pinot Noir, visited the state frequently, and founded his own US importing company in 2003.
Arni was particularly drawn to J. Christopher's wines.
He saw this wine as a New World wine made in the Old World style, with finesse, a clear expression of terroir and excellent aging potential.
A collaboration soon began, and Arni named a carefully selected blend of premium Pinot Noir Appassionata, after Beethoven's piano sonata.
A few years later, Erni purchased 16 hectares of land in Chehalam Mountain in Newberg, Oregon, and built Appassionata Vineyards and the winery where he still produces Appassionata and J. Christopher Wines today.