2016 Cristom Estate Syrah Willamette Valley

Cristom began experimenting with Syrah in 2002, by grafting over plantings of Chardonnay on the lower slopes of our estate.  We carefully selected which vines to graft over, choosing a low-lying block on our hillside where heat accumulation is at its highest on the estate, giving our Syrah the best opportunity to ripen in a moderate maritime climate. 

Originally, 2.5 acres (1.01 hectares) of Chardonnay were grafted over to four clones of Syrah. The clones selected – 174, 383, 470, and 877 – were chosen primarily for their recognized heritage of producing small berries, encouraging our chances of ripening Syrah in the Willamette Valley. However, after cool growing seasons in 2007, 2008 and 2010, we made the decision to graft half of the estate Syrah over to Viognier in 2011. All that remains is 0.31 acres (0.125 hectares) of each of the four clones, totaling 1.24 acres (0.50 hectares) of estate Syrah.

We produce an extremely limited quantities of this wine, resulting in a bit of a cult following for it over the years.  The Cristom Estate Syrah wines are defined by spice, balance, perfume, texture and nuance, gaining complexity in the bottle for a decade or more.

From a historical perspective, the wines of 2016 bear more than a passing resemblance to two other highly-acclaimed Oregon vintages: 2012 and 2008, years known for producing low yields of small, concentrated berries. Three separate heat swells in early spring of 2016 resulted in three distinct bloom periods, creating small amounts of millerandage, (“chicks and hens”) within individual clusters – which we welcome with open arms, as we firmly believe this only adds to the character and complexity of our wines.