Cristom Vineyards Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard 2018

If you want to understand the soul of the Eola-Amity Hills, you look to the crest of the hill. Named after Paul Gerrie’s wife, Eileen Vineyard sits at the highest elevation on the Cristom estate, reaching up to 735 feet. This 2018 bottling is a masterstroke of high-altitude farming, delivering a wine that is as ethereal as it is structured.

The 2018 vintage in Oregon gave us sunshine and concentration, but Eileen’s volcanic soils and wind-whipped location ensured the fruit kept its cool. On the nose, it’s a seductive mix of dark black cherry, damp earth, and that signature Cristom spice. Because they utilize whole-cluster fermentation (around 46% for this vintage), there’s a savory, stem-driven complexity—think dried tobacco leaf and crushed peppercorns—that balances the lush fruit.

Cristom is legendary for their commitment to native yeast fermentation and minimal intervention. In the 2018 Eileen, you aren’t just tasting grapes; you’re tasting the “Van Duzer Corridor” winds and the basalt rock beneath the vines. It is a benchmark for Willamette Valley excellence—pure, transparent, and deeply moving.