Cristom Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay 2023 - 750ml

95pts Decanter

Mostly estate fruit, with Royer, Stiling and Von Oehsen all a part of this wine. This entry-level Chardonnay is very impressive, with lemon curd richness set off against a saline streak of minerality and electricity that carries through this wine—mineral driven with plenty of fruit, aromatics of seaspray, lemon beebalm and ginger spice.

94pts James Suckling

A great balance between crisp apple tartness and flavors of ripe baked apples and poached pears. Hints of butter, almonds, vanilla bean, lemon zest and lime pith. Racy acidity brings out a chalky, minerally element as you sip. Drink now or hold.

94pts Jeb Dunnuck

A bright yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Eola Amity Hills lifts from the glass with notes of flint and is bright with notes of white pepper, flinty crushed stones, lemon pith, white flowers, and salted white pineapple. The palate is medium-bodied, with a focused feel that's electric and sporty. It has ripeness but it’s taut, exhibiting a lot of tension and drive, culminating in a mouthwatering finish. This a lovely, mineral-driven Chardonnay. Drink 2025-2035.

93pts Wine Enthusiast

I was mighty impressed with this wine, which too often sits in the Chardonnay shadow of Louise and Eileen. This strong presentation opens with lemon zest and cantaloupe aromas that are backed by the comforting scent of dust warming on a light bulb. The wine's crisp acidity joins with sour lemon hard candy and toasted filbert notes to create a lean, clean Chardonnay machine.

Winery Notes

Cristom Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery that has established itself as a top producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Eola-Amity Hills district of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Second-generation proprietor Tom Gerrie leads the production team, which includes long time winemaker Steve Doerner and recently arrived vineyard manager & winemaker Daniel Estrin. Each bring experience from working at top Pinot/Chardonnay producers in California: Doerner from Calera and Estrin from Littorai. Tom’s parents, Paul and Eileen Gerrie, founded the winery in 1992.

The estate is divided into five single vineyards: Jessie, Eileen, Marjorie, and Louise (all named for Matriarchs in the Gerrie family); and the newly added Paul Gerrie vineyard, acquired in 2012. There are 95 acres on vine throughout the 240-acre property. The majority vineyards are planted at a high density of around 2,300 vines per acre and heavily cropped to produce about 2 tons of fruit per acre.