Planted in 1994, this is the steepest vineyard. The volcanic soils of Joly and Nikia are mixed together, resulting in a wine with great diversity and complexity. It has aromas of orange peel, stewed berries, and leather, and is very elegant on the palate, with a light texture and soft taste, yet a very long aftertaste.
Christom specializes in single vineyard winemaking that brings out the characteristics of the terroir.
Vintage Information
2021 was a very dry year throughout the year, but rain during flowering affected pollination, resulting in small clusters and low yields, but the fruit was concentrated, making this a vintage that produced grapes of the highest quality in the last 10 years.
Although it was a dry year, a little rain in July midway through was a big help to the young vines and to the older vines in the rocky vineyards with little topsoil.
There were several hot days in August, but thanks to the efforts of the cultivation team, no major damage was caused, and the cool weather that followed from August to September allowed the grapes to ripen sufficiently, resulting in well-balanced grapes that did not lose their acidity.
Technical information
Winemaking method: 52% whole-cluster fermentation, fermented in open fermentation tanks of 1.5 to 5 ton capacity using only native yeasts.
Punchdown is done 1-3 times a day, and the wine is gently pressed and transferred by gravity to French barrels (François Frères and several other types), where it is aged for 18 months (38% new barrels).
Clarified using only egg whites, no filters
Tasting Comments
Due to the volcanic soil, it has a rich minerality, a pale ruby color, and a somewhat subdued aroma of black cherry, licorice, bergamot, baking spices, earth and wet leaves.
The palate is medium to full-bodied with a silky texture and a wonderful blend of ripe fruit, spice and earthy notes.
Firm tannins, mouth-filling acidity, and a complex, long-lasting finish.
Jesse's defining feature is its complex, layered flavors and enticing umami taste.
Field Information
Jessie is our own 11.5 hectare vineyard, named after the paternal grandmother of our founder, Paul Gerry.
Planted in 1994, this vineyard faces east and has the steepest slope. The elevation difference is huge, ranging from 105 to 172 metres, and the soil is divided into two large areas.
The planting density is very high at 5,710 trees per hectare, with all trees planted facing east-west (perpendicular to the slope).
The Columbia Valley basalt soil contains a variety of soil types representative of the Willamette Valley, such as Jolly, Samum, Nikia, Lightner, and Witzel, resulting in a diverse and complex wine.
The lower part of the slope has a deep topsoil and a mixture of basalt and clay, which gives the grapes good water retention and strength, while the upper part of the slope has a thin topsoil and is mixed with fist-sized stones, which puts stress on the vines, resulting in grapes that retain their acidity and have complex flavors.
A characteristic of Jesse is the large differences between plots, and blending them gives the wine depth.
The weather is mild during the day, but strong winds blow down at night, cooling the area, allowing the grapes to retain their acidity.
The acidity gives the wine structure and length.
Vintage: 2021
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Medium bodied
Main variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: Oregon
AVA: Eola-Amity Hills
Vineyard: Jessie Vineyard
Winemaker: Steve Doerner
Winemaking: 52% whole bunch fermentation, fermented in 1.5-5 ton open fermentation tanks using only natural yeasts
Aging: 18 months in French barrels (François Frères and several other types) (38% new barrels)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 13.5%
JAN: 851573001075