2014 Nicolas-Jay, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
The new Meo-Camuzet Oregon project, the Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir is out, and it is a brilliant and luscious wine with deep fruit and youthful intensity, the gorgeous up front maybe hiding the wine’s subtle details, but bottle age should bring amazing rewards, this is stunner! A partnership between famed Burgundy vigneron Jean-Nicolas Meo, of Domaine Meo-Camuzet, renowned for wines like Clos de Vougeot and Vosne-Romanee, and music and media mogul Jay Boberg, who co-founded IRS Records, was president of MCA/Universal Music and now heads Isolation Networks-INgrooves. The Domaine Nicolas-Jay owns a vineyard, Bishop’s Creek and sources from top growers in the Willamette as they build this label, I would think after this first success they’ll be around a long time and have more of their own vines. The other part of this story that shouldn’t be overlooked, is the work and achievement of associate winemaker Tracy Kendall, a young winemaker on the rise, coming from a three year stint as enologist at Adelsheim Vineyard, where she really was making some great stuff before joining up with Jean-Nicolas, as well as working harvests at Vasse Felix in Western Australia, Serisin in New Zealand as well as Kiwi Pinot specialist Felton Road. As the day to day person in charge she got this wine to where it is, bravo Tracy, and everyone she keep an eye on her as well as the Domaine Nicolas-Jay, which is a wine to get on board with early. The 2014 vintage in Oregon is a blockbuster and the Nicolas-Jay takes full advantage of nature’s gift here with explosive fruit, a seductive nose of rose petal, violets and sweet smoke, a dark core and a glorious array of layers, flavors and length with blackberry, cherry, sweet plum and tangy currant fruits, mixed spice, light mineral tones, hints of cedar, blueberry/concord grape, cinnamon and delicate earthy loam. Look for lots more complexity as it unlocks hidden treasure over the coming decade. Almost full-bodied, the 2014 Nicolas-Jay is very much alive with lifting acidity, graceful silken tannins and gorgeous sexy mouth feel, a bit more flamboyant than the Ken Wright 2014’s, but with similar detail, this may have had a Burgundian touch, but it is all Oregon in character and terroir, close to what you’d expect from top producers like Beaux Freres, don’t miss a chance to get a few bottles, and while this Pinot is great now, it should be better in 5 to 10 years, this winery is off to a fantastic start!
($65 Est.) 94+ Points, grapelive
