December 8, 2017

CRISTOM “Louise Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2015

(Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon) $55

The aromas of Christmas-to-come were already floating in the room. The piney incense of the Christmas tree. The rich fruitiness of plums. The deep roast of chestnuts. The edgy spiciness of nutmeg. Wait. They weren’t in the room. They were just in the glass, and like all great wines, this one was capable of taking you (taking me anyway) on a riff of imagination. I hadn’t even tasted the wine yet, but I was intoxicated. As for flavor, imagine dancing slowly with someone who dances better than you. My advice: Don’t think. Just keep following. (14% abv).

94 points KM

Available at Hi-Time Wine Cellars

Calima, Cape Doctor, Vendaval, and Zonda are all synonyms for Merlot in various wine regions around the world.

Answer: False.

While grape varieties that grow well in various countries are often known by different names, these titles identify winds both feared and revered in the wine regions where they blow (the Canary Islands, South Africa, Spain, and Argentina, respectively). Like their more well-known cousins, France’s Mistral, North Africa’s Sirocco, and Southern California’s Santa Anas, these winds can bring both destruction and relief from heat or humidity. Although a gentle breeze is almost always good (it cools the grapes and promotes air circulation as a guard against rot), a slashing wind is another story. Right after flowering, a severe wind can prevent flowers from setting properly, scattering them in the air so that they never fertilize and become grapes. Bludgeoning wind can break off tender parts of the vines, damage the canes, bruise the leaves, and even rip away the fruit. Lastly, a harsh wind may cause the vine to close its stomata, microscopic holes in the undersides of the leaves that are responsible for evaporation. With the stomata closed, the vine ceases to draw water through its root tips. Eventually, all growth comes to a halt.

“Remember gentleman, it’s not just France we are fighting for; it’s Champagne!”

—Winston Churchill (1908–1965),
Prime Minister of England

CRISTOM “Louise Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2015

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