It has now been over a year since I have had the chance to taste one of the great boutique wineries in Oregon. Domaine Nicolas-Jay is a collaboration between Jean-Nicolas Méo (Domaine Méo-Camuzet) and Jay Boberg, co-founder of the music label, IRS Records. Jean-Nicolas Meo has experience working with grand crus of Burgundy and has translated that into understanding Oregon terroir. Jean-Nicolas has truly produced wines from some of the finest vineyards in Burgundy such as the Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot, Corton Clos Rognet and Echezeaux vineyards. Jay Boberg serves as cellar rat and aids assistant winemaker Tracy Kendall. The winery sources from their estate Bishop Creek Vineyard on in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, as well as grapes from other outstanding Willamette Valley vineyards, including Nysa, Momtazi, Hyland and La Colina.
I have been quite impressed with these wines since they were first released in 2014 and I really enjoyed the new release wines. The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) is very fresh and Burgundian with its mushroom and flinty notes. Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Nysa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is big and burly with plenty of bright acidity and serious aging potential. Learn more about this gorgeous producer at https://www.nicolas-jay.com and here are my tasting notes from the outstanding 2019 Nicolas Jay wines.
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay was stored in neutral French oak before bottling as a portion of the wine was sourced from their estate Bishop Creek Vineyard. Fresh and polished, this unveils wild mushroom and flinty tones alongside lemon zest on the palate. Finishing long with vanilla cream and minerals, this has the stuffing to cellar well for another decade Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was aged in 20% new French oak before bottling. This is silky, medium-bodied Pinot Noir has a long life ahead of it with its bright core of teaberry and red currant flavors with citrus rind and black truffle shaving accents. Fresh and lively, this is already nicely evolved. Drink 2021-2029- 92
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new bottling by Jean-Nicolas Méo and Tracy Kendall. Sourced from 30 year old vines, this Pinot Noir unveils pretty red rose water aromatics alongside shades of red raspberry and cloves, with damp earthy accents. The palate is fresh and vibrant with serious acidity and a good sense of weight with its core of red and dark fruits. Gorgeous now, this will cellar well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2021-2036- 93
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new wine by this famed Willamette Valley winery. Sourced from a host of Willamette Valley AVAs, this was stored in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. Vibrant, with loads of refinement and a soft texture, the wine slowly unveils layers of pretty guava and red currant flavors alongside orange zest and stony undercurrents on the palate. This has formidable heft considering some of the challenges of this cooler vintage. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Nysa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A simply outstanding release, the 2019 ‘Nysa Vineyard’ shows the weight and balance that the Dundee Hills is known for. A very black fruit-driven profile, this unveils huckleberry and wild blackberry flavors alongside stony and earthy undertones. With gobs of mouth-watering acidity and citrus rind undertones, this complex and downright delicious wine is already showing beautifully in its youth — and will continue to evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 94
2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Own Rooted’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Own Rooted’ comes from several sites in the Willamette Valley including the Bishop Creek, Hyland and Nysa Vineyards. Very bold and polished on the mouth, with plenty of finesse, this red fruit-driven wine reveals pretty red raspberry and strawberry tones alongside the bright acidity. Finishing long with red fruits and stony minerals, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94