Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015, Nicolas-Jay


Continuing the Imbibers' Guide exploration of links between Burgundy and Oregon we visited the Nicolas-Jay team in June to try the wines produced by the joint venture between Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet and music entrepreneur Jay Boberg. This pinot spends 15 months in oak of which 33% is new oak. Jean-Nicolas believes French oak barrels sold to Oregon wine-makers are often too heavily toasted and since he is in Burgundy he selects the barrels himself from François Frères to avoid this toasty style. In the wine-making process they pump over rather than punching down and the grapes for this wine are 100% destemmed. Attractive deep red colour. On the nose this Willamette Valley 2015 has an initial nose of oak, aniseed, hawthorn, cherry stone and beetroot. Needs time to evolve. The palate is attractively fresh with cherry, red currant and red apple flavours. Offering savoury length rather a fruit breadth this wine has good definition, it's appetizing and is designed to be imbibed with food. Scores 78-80/100. 

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