Oregon – Page 3 – Cristaldi & Co

2022

Quady North

Mae's Vineyard Syrah

From Mae’s Vineyard—named for Margaux Mae, the owner’s daughter—this is a gorgeous Syrah, bursting with pure red cherry and blueberry fruit, interlaced with rose petal, violet, and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is all satin and silk, energized by tangy blood orange acidity and layered with hints of clove, mountain herbs, and wet stone minerality on a long, saline-acid finish. Simply spectacular.

Red

2022

Ryanrose

Tempranillo

A gentle giant of a Tempranillo. Red-toned fruit, cedarwood, and crushed cacao nibs rise on the nose and carry through the medium-bodied palate, where powerful, burly tannins build toward a towering finish. Give this a good decant and pair it with well-salted ribeyes. From Folin Vineyard, which has been ripped out. Fermented in bins, with twice daily punchdowns and pumpovers, and aged 24 months in 50% new French oak.

Red

2022

Somar

Estate Grown Syrah

The 2022 Syrah from Somar is a vivid, red-fruited expression with blue fruit nuances woven throughout, framed by velvety tannins and supple fruit layered with baking spices, a hint of vanilla, and crushed rock minerality with espresso bean and violet nuances. All too easy to drink.

Red

2022

The Setting Wines

Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay

The Chehalem Mountain Vineyard, near the top of the Chehalem Mountain AVA, sits at 400 feet and is planted mostly on volcanic soils. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak, this is a serious wine that benefits from a little air. It builds in the glass with bright orchard fruit, crisp green-apple skin, and delicate white-floral and warm brown-baking-spice notes. Absolutely pretty, completely crushable, and wonderfully mineral on the lengthy finish.

White

2022

The Setting Wines

Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Chehalem Mountain Vineyard, near the top of the Chehalem Mountain AVA, sits at 400 feet and is planted mostly on volcanic soils. No whole cluster here, but plenty of tannin comes from a one-third saignée bleed, which concentrates the skin-to-juice ratio. This wine has a good amount of grip, showcasing the firm tannins that come from grapes grown on this steep hillside. There’s marionberry and crunchy farmers’ market–ripe red fruit, layered with richer volcanic mineral character, lovely caramel and clove-spice notes, and an overall fragrance that’s both sumptuous and inviting.

Red

2022

The Setting Wines

Eola Springs Vineyard Chardonnay

From the Eola Springs Vineyard in Oregon. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. This is a very focused, very linear Chardonnay — clean, crisp, and intensely mineral-driven, with a cool wet-river-stone quality and a touch of pulverized chalk. Whispers of lemon and lime citrus mingle with white flowers, subtle almond, fennel blossom, and a hint of anise. Very lovely. Very pristine.

White

2022

The Setting Wines

Eola Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir

From the Eola Springs Vineyard in Oregon. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. No whole cluster here, but plenty of tannin comes from a one-third saignée bleed, which concentrates the skin-to-juice ratio. Jesse Katz likes the skin tannin this site delivers, and the technique helps those tannins stick. The wine is vivid, offering crunchy red fruit and conifer notes — that bright pine-forest character that’s so enticing from this area. The spice on the palate is lavish and rich, with smoked paprika and warm brown-baking-spice accents wrapped around ripe cherry fruit. The tannins are smooth and velvety, incredibly rich and flavorful, with a freshness factor that’s hard to beat.

Red

2022

Wanderlust

Viognier

One of the best wines I tasted from Wanderlust, this Viognier shows impressive mid-palate depth and fragrant, flinty minerality. Notes of quince and honeysuckle blossoms unfold gracefully, carrying through to a medium-length finish.

White

2023

Benmar

Above the Clouds Pinot Noir

A darker‑styled Pinot Noir from this producer, the 2023 Above the Clouds from Benmar opens with the juicy richness of black cherry and black raspberry, warmed by cedarwood spice and enlivened by tangerine peel and grapefruit zest. The nose deepens with crushed raspberry, wild cherry and pomegranate, offset by wild herbs, rose petal and forest‑floor. On the palate, sinewy, crisp tannins support a saline‑tinged core that pulses with redcurrant, cranberry and strawberry fruit. Intense minerality and a whisper of black tea anchor the mid‑palate, while the finish drifts into cocoa‑powder, conifer and lingering brine—a hauntingly savory, vibrant expression of high‑elevation Willamette Pinot.

Red

2023

CHEV

Pinot Noir

This is a wonderfully crunchy red- and black-fruited Pinot Noir. That texture carries onto the palate with a velvety, satiny quality, delivering a ripe, juicy, mineral-laced expression layered with dark forest pine, earth, and wet slate. The fruit is weighty yet pure—ripe, clean, and edged with crisp apple-skin tannins. Freshness drives the finish, accented by rich cedarwood and warm baking spices. Clones: Wadenswil, Pommard, 667. Aged 15 months in 38% new French oak, 28% once-used French oak, and 34% neutral French oak.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Adagio Pinot Noir

Native fermented in 1.5-ton macro bins, this 100% Wädenswil 2A clone Pinot Noir was aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak. It’s an expressive and bright Pinot with vibrant blood orange acidity, fragrant cherry and rose petal nuances, and layers of crushed wild herbs. Dusty cocoa powder tannins frame the juicy, long, and spicy finish. Winemaker Chris Jiron believes this late-ripening clone is ideal for the region.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Allongé Chardonnay

Super zesty, with sea spray–infused wild herb minerality and bright straw aromatics. Medium-bodied, it delivers beautiful purity of orchard fruit on a complex mid-palate, with lemony acid tension and crushed almonds on the finish. Bright, energetic, and focused—a tremendous value at this price.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Capriccio Chardonnay

Dijon and Wente clones fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels for six months. Bright and citrusy, with crunchy acidity and appealing notes of apple and pear. The finish is long, clean, and laced with baking spice—very lovely and beautifully balanced.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Danseur Syrah

Sourced from Crater View Vineyard, just across the street from DANCIN, this Syrah was native fermented in 1.5-ton macro bins and aged for 17 months in 40% new French oak. It’s a beautifully multidimensional wine, showcasing pure blackberry and blue fruit nuances, candied violets, and white pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate with building tannins, exceptional length, and velvet-textured structure, it’s framed by Indian spices and layered with floral intensity on the long, energetic finish. An excellent wine.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Écarte Pinot Noir

Native fermented in 1.5-ton macro bins and aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak, this 100% Pommard clone Pinot Noir is spicy and expressive, with cocoa nib nuances and dusty cherry notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, it delivers juicy cherry and blackberry fruit, pomegranate seeds, and a touch of grapefruit zest. Rose petal florals and a hint of honeysuckle linger on the long finish. The wine has excellent grip and tension, offering both structure and elegance.

Red

2023

DANCIN

En Bas Pinot Noir

Native fermented in 1.5-ton macro bins and aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak, this Dijon 777 Pinot Noir offers cherry and strawberry fruit layered with fragrant Indian spices and sandalwood. Medium-bodied with a long, expressive finish, it’s both aromatic and finely structured.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Melodia Pinot Noir

Sourced from the Oregon State Extension Center in Jacksonville, OR, this Pinot Noir is made from fruit grown to support research efforts. It’s a more rustic expression, offering notes of black tea, black truffle, and candied cherry, with a savory wild herb finish.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Setti Pezzi Pinot Noir

Here’s a clonal soup for the true wine geeks: this Pinot Noir blend brings together Wadenswil 2A, Dijon clones 115, 667, 828, 777, 114, and Pommard, all aged in 30% new French oak. It’s bright and spicy, with red cherry fruit, bold tannins, and notes of underbrush and pine forest. The tannins build through the long finish, gradually softening as blood orange acidity emerges and mingles with elegant cedarwood character and deeper layers of dark cherry fruit.

Red

2023

DANCIN

Trata Pinot Noir

This Dijon 777 Pinot Noir was whole cluster fermented and aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak. Bold, rich, and spicy—yet light on its feet—it delivers black cherry, clove, blood orange, and grapefruit zest. The tannins are ripe and grippy, and the finish reveals crushed stone and wet slate minerality. A fantastically structured Pinot Noir with impressive grip and tension—give it another year or two in bottle and enjoy over the next decade.

Red

2023

Del Rio Vineyard Estate

Estate Grown Viognier

A wonderfully fragrant and balanced Viognier with impressive complexity, excellent weight and density, and layers of expressive orchard and tropical fruit. Notes of honeysuckle and jasmine weave through the profile, making it both beautifully aromatic and effortlessly drinkable.

White

2023

Kriselle Cellars

Albariño

What an enticing and satisfying white this is—from the first whiff of creamy, luscious stone and tropical fruit layered with wildflowers to the vibrant palate, it delivers richness balanced by a scintillating spine of acidity that keeps all that lush fruit buoyant and energized.

White

2023

Long Walk Vineyard

Zinfandel

Everything Zinfandel ever promised is right here in this glass from Long Walk Vineyard—bursting at the seams with strawberry and raspberry fruit drizzled in vanilla cream. Bright and expressive, with a sturdy framework of tannins and plenty of baking spice, clove, and cardamom to carry the day.

Red

2023

Padigan

Viognier

Gorgeous aromas of white flowers, jasmine, honeysuckle, and apricot. The palate offers lush fruit expression, with lemon-lime, white peach, chalky minerals, and a hint of mango on the long, savory, spiced finish. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel for 5 to 6 months on the lees, which adds a touch of richness.

White

2023

Pedro Guillermo (by Peter William)

Peter William Vineyard Robin's Rumba

Sourced entirely from Peter William Vineyard in the Rogue Valley, fermented in one-ton open-top bins, then aged 20 months in neutral French oak. A little bolder and zestier than the Syrah-Cha-Cha—another wine in the Pedro Guillermo Dance Series—this one certainly shows some pizzazz. Dark, juicy fruit and warm baking spices mingle with a potpourri of perfumed dried florals and a hint of charcuterie on the medium-bodied finish.

Red

2023

Pedro Guillermo (by Peter William)

Peter William Vineyard Syrah-Cha-Cha

Sourced entirely from Peter William Vineyard in the Rogue Valley, fermented in one-ton open-top bins, then aged 20 months in neutral French oak. This is a spicy, cha-cha Syrah with pure dark-berry fruit, white pepper, earthy brightness, and dried florals. Silky, juicy, and persistent on the medium-bodied finish—exactly the kind of thirst-quenching wine you need after a night of salsa dancing.

Red

2023

Peter William

Bifocal Red Wine

Malbec comes from Peter William Vineyard, while the Cabernet Franc is sourced separately by Eric Weisinger. The fruit was destemmed and given up to 25 days of skin contact with twice-daily punchdowns, then aged 20 months in 30% new French oak. The Cabernet Franc immediately bursts from the glass with sagebrush, cassis, and tobacco. The mid-palate builds on the Malbec’s structure, showing taut, firm tannins that draw you in before resolving to reveal apple skin, red apple, and cocoa powder notes that permeate the senses.

Red

2023

Plaisance Ranch

Chardonnay Papa Joe's Private Stash

The 2023 Plaisance Ranch Chardonnay is a classic. Bursting with citrus fruit and toasty oak spice, it’s medium-bodied with supple fruit and rich oak layers balanced by crisp acidity. The finish lingers with notes of salted Marcona almonds and mouthwatering salinity.

White

2023

Quady North

Mae's Vineyard Viognier

From Mae’s Vineyard in the Applegate Valley AVA, this Viognier from Herb Quady is dynamic, focused, and irresistibly fresh. White peach, white flowers, and a hint of honeysuckle lead the way, all grounded by a medium-bodied palate with racy mineral tension. Stock up by the case if you can—this one’s a standout.

White

2023

Somar

Estate Grown Muscat

Super expressive on the nose, with a decidedly vinous character—white peach, apricot, and jasmine flowers. The palate shows balanced fruit sweetness, carrying through that grapey, vinous quality—like biting into a crunchy green grape that’s both juicy and sweet, with a gentle phenolic grip. The wine finishes effortlessly, with a satiny kiss of sweetness.

White

2023

Somar

Estate Grown Sauvignon Blanc

Orange oil, tangerine, and grapefruit zest lead the way, followed by a fruit salad of diced mango and green papaya, finished with a touch of crushed almonds. This Sauvignon Blanc offers great textural grip and a beautifully focused mid-palate of chalky minerality. Long, layered, and savory—it’s best paired with hard or medium-soft, grassy goat’s milk cheeses.

White

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2021

Producer

Name

A full-throttle, bright, and effusive red blend with cranberry, raspberry, and cherry fruit interlaced with clove spice and orange peel. Medium-bodied on the palate, with grainy tannins forming a solid foundation for all that juicy fruit. The tannins build toward a drying finish marked by brown spices and cedarwood.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

This Sangiovese-led red blend delivers heady aromatics of red cherry and rose petal. On the palate, it offers lovely suppleness, with saline-mineral-laced tannins and notes of mocha, black cherry, and espresso bean. It shows good length, balanced tension, and a satisfying, pleasantly lingering finish.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

The 2021 Grenache is in its perfect drinking window. The bright, ripe red berry fruit has mellowed, giving way to savory notes of tobacco, currant leaf, and currant fruit, layered with expressive bay laurel and juniper. Black tea–like tannins grip the palate, while the juicy currant fruit carries through to a medium-length finish, infused with savory nuance. This is the kind of wine you’ll want to pair with hard, salty cheeses or truffle-infused charcuterie. The Grenache was sourced from the Jackson Vineyard in the middle of the Rogue Valley AVA.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

Fragrant wild herbs and high-toned currant fruit mingle with brandied Morello cherries and a heady dose of candied rose petals. Medium-bodied, with fine-textured tannins and subtle nuances of sagebrush and bay laurel. Drink now with herb-crusted pork loin.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

Planted on alluvial cobblestones and weathered granite in the shadows of the Siskiyou Mountains, these vines lie in the Applegate Valley—part of Southern Oregon’s larger Rogue Valley AVA. Sourced from the Glory Oaks Vineyard, this wine is native yeast fermented and medium-bodied, with a satiny texture. High-toned red berry fruit, vanilla, and cedarwood aromatics are balanced by savory notes of black olive, tobacco, and saddle leather on the palate.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

This Pinot Noir is in its perfect drinking window, having evolved beyond bright red cherry fruit into more savory territory—think red currant, tobacco leaf, and black tea–like tannins. All of that builds on the medium-bodied palate, layered with crunchy currant fruit, espresso bean nuances, bay laurel, and sage, leading to a long, satisfying, smoky-savor finish. If you’re drawn to Pinot in its secondary and tertiary phase, this one’s for you. I highly recommend enjoying it over the course of a meal—ideally, a couple of bottles at a time—now through 2030.

Red

2021

Producer

Name

Wanderlust’s 2021 Grenache is a light- to medium-bodied red with a bright herbal pop, followed by red berry fruit and nutty spice on the palate. Velvety textures support a mineral-rich, slightly meaty finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Sourced from the Egan Vineyard in the Rogue Valley, this Malbec is yet another compelling reason why the region should hang its hat on the variety. Dark berry fruit mingles on the nose with a wonderfully expressive mix of dried wild herbs—a panoply of sage, thyme, rosemary, fennel, and straw. These savory elements build on the medium-bodied palate, framed by rose-petal-scented tannins that are firm yet graceful, resolving into chocolaty nuances and saline-mineral tension. A juicy spine of acidity ties it all together. A lovely wine, and a natural match for smoked or braised meats.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

From the Egan Vineyard, this 2022 Viognier is a stunning wine, offering lifted aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine, salted Marcona almonds, and a burst of expressive lemon-lime citrus, poached apple, and pear. There’s impressive mid-palate weight and fruit density, all balanced by zippy acid tension.

White

2022

Producer

Name

Expressive citrus and orchard-fruit notes lift out of the glass alongside tarragon, wild fennel, almond paste and a gentle touch of cedarwood spice. The palate is zesty and chalky-mineral, lingering with richer tones of lemon curd, grilled herbs and creamy caramel, yet the wine remains crisp, crunchy and beautifully balanced throughout.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Cherry fruit, grilled herbs, leather and cocoa powder notes carry this medium-bodied, ‘no nonsense’ wine. Just as the label says, Sip, Savor, and chill and in fact, I’d serve this with a little chill on it while you serve up your favorite pizza or tacos. Great weeknight wine.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The Italian city of Alba is a sister city to Medford, Oregon, and Sorella—the Italian word for sister—honors that connection. This 100% Barbera Clone 6 was aged in 28% new French oak and delivers a bold, dark-fruited profile, laced with cherry, cherrywood, raspberry, and spiced plums. Robust, chocolaty tannins and tangy blood orange acidity carry through to the finish, giving this wine both power and vibrancy.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Del Rio Estate Syrah is bold and dark-fruited, with violet aromas and cherry-laced intensity. It shows impressive concentration, supported by a bulwark of velvety tannins that frame all that juicy fruit. Expressive and powerful, yet elegant, it finishes with tremendous length as the violet notes turn candied and are dusted with fragrant Indian spices. A long and deeply satisfying Syrah.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Absolutely fantastic, this Chardonnay shows Chablis-like minerality and lemon-lime freshness with tremendous tension. Medium-bodied, it features a satiny core of apple and pear fruit layered with crushed almond, all leading to a long, saline-acid finish. Bright, fresh, and assertive—a standout. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that they work with 10 different clones of Chardonnay, most of which are planted on granitic soils. He prioritizes acidity at harvest, often doing multiple picks within the same block to build complexity and ensure he never needs to add acid. After settling overnight, the juice is racked to barrel and inoculated with native yeast in-barrel. The wine is aged for up to 15 months in one-third new French oak and goes through full malolactic fermentation. Lots are kept separate throughout aging, lees stirring is minimal, and blending occurs just before bottling. Of the three estate Chardonnays Winemaker Brian Gruber produces, Ascendance is the top cuvée and the first blend assembled—focused on precision and structure. Convergence follows, crafted for more roundness and ripeness, while the Estate Chardonnay is blended last, offering an expression that reflects the broader vineyard character.

White

2022

Producer

Name

Total elegance—this Pinot Noir weaves conifer notes around bright red berry, cherry, and pomegranate fruit, accented by flinty minerality and gorgeous cedarwood. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers cherry, blood orange, and cranberry, all lifted by crunchy cranberry acidity. The tannins are fine, firm, and taut—beautifully elongated and persistent through the long, spicy finish. A superbly built and absolutely delicious Pinot Noir. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that this Pinot Noir is a blend of older plantings and newer vines established in 2018. Grapes are mostly destemmed, though select lots are fermented with whole clusters for blending flexibility. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, with individual blocks vinified separately. After a short cold soak, native fermentations begin, accompanied by a regimen of pumpovers and punchdowns. Following primary fermentation, an extended maceration of up to 28 days builds mouthfeel, mid-palate weight, and structure. The wine is gently pressed, with primarily free-run juice selected for the final blend. It is aged in roughly one-third new French oak for up to 18 months before blending and bottling.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The nose is beautifully fragrant, with savory conifer and dried pine tips layered with incense and underbrush, interwoven with bright red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, framed by gentle tannins and lifted by vivid blood orange acidity. The long, lingering finish offers a delicate kiss of sweetness balanced by a subtle, amaro-like bitterness. Bright, vivid, and wonderfully complex. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that this Pinot Noir is a blend of older plantings and newer vines established in 2018. Grapes are mostly destemmed, though select lots are fermented with whole clusters for blending flexibility. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, with individual blocks vinified separately. After a short cold soak, native fermentations begin, accompanied by a regimen of pumpovers and punchdowns. Following primary fermentation, an extended maceration of up to 28 days builds mouthfeel, mid-palate weight, and structure. The wine is gently pressed, with primarily free-run juice selected for the final blend. It is aged in roughly one-third new French oak for up to 18 months before blending and bottling.

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Quady North

Mae's Vineyard Syrah

Ryanrose

Tempranillo

Somar

Estate Grown Syrah

The Setting Wines

Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay

The Setting Wines

Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Setting Wines

Eola Springs Vineyard Chardonnay

The Setting Wines

Eola Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir

Wanderlust

Viognier

Benmar

Above the Clouds Pinot Noir

CHEV

Pinot Noir

DANCIN

Adagio Pinot Noir

DANCIN

Allongé Chardonnay

DANCIN

Capriccio Chardonnay

DANCIN

Danseur Syrah

DANCIN

Écarte Pinot Noir

DANCIN

En Bas Pinot Noir

DANCIN

Melodia Pinot Noir

DANCIN

Setti Pezzi Pinot Noir

DANCIN

Trata Pinot Noir

Del Rio Vineyard Estate

Estate Grown Viognier

Kriselle Cellars

Albariño

Long Walk Vineyard

Zinfandel

Padigan

Viognier

Pedro Guillermo (by Peter William)

Peter William Vineyard Robin's Rumba

Pedro Guillermo (by Peter William)

Peter William Vineyard Syrah-Cha-Cha

Peter William

Bifocal Red Wine

Plaisance Ranch

Chardonnay Papa Joe's Private Stash

Quady North

Mae's Vineyard Viognier