Oregon wine: 2018 Nicolas-Jay L'Ensemble Willamette Valley Pinot noir ©Winerabble

Oregon wine: 2018 Nicolas-Jay L’Ensemble Willamette Valley Pinot noir

Willamette Valley

Oregon

13.5% alcohol

Empty bottle weight:
24.8 ounces // 705 grams

Cork closure

1145 cases produced // native yeast 

Nicolas-Jay is a unique partnership between Jay Boberg and Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet. Their shared love of wine is the glue in their decades-long friendship. After Jay retired from a successful career in the music industry (he co-founded I.R.S. Records while attending UCLA), he approached Jean-Nicolas with the idea of launching a winery in Oregon. Following that conversation, they purchased a vineyard, then property on which they planted another vineyard and built a new winery. With Jean-Nicolas in France much of the year, associate winemaker Tracy Kendall oversees the day-to-day winemaking of the small winery.

As the name suggests, this Pinot noir is a blend of grapes grown in different sub-AVAs within the Willamette Valley. Fermented using native yeast, the wine was aged in 33% new French oak barrels for 14 months. It was not fined and filtered before bottling. With many classic aromas and flavors found in Willamette Valley Pinot, it’s a versatile, food-friendly wine.

BOUQUET

Winerabble Forest floor icon

forest floor

Winerabble Cranberries icon

cranberry

Winerabble Black licorice icon

licorice

Winerabble Mushroom icon

mushrooms

Winerabble Brown sugar icon

brown sugar

Winerabble Freshly tilled soil icon

earthy

PALATE

Winerabble Sour cherries icon

sour cherry

Winerabble Raspberry icon

raspberry

Winerabble Cranberries icon

cranberry

Winerabble Mushroom icon

mushrooms

Winerabble Rose hips icon

rosehips

Winerabble Red cherries icon

red cherry

FOOD PAIRING
SUGGESTIONS

creamy kale chicken and gnocchi soup

beet wellington

roasted salmon with lentils and bacon

The winery is sold out of this vintage but you can buy their 2019, or look for 2018 at your favorite wine shop.

SRP $70

Have you tasted this wine? Be sure to tell us how you like it in the comments!

Sharing is caring so choose your platform!

About the Author: Michele Francisco

Michele Francisco, a founder and regular contributor to Winerabble, a blog primarily about Pacific Northwest wines, is living the dream in Portland, Oregon. Her passion leads some to believe she's got wine running through her veins. Contact Michele at michele@winerabble.com & be sure to visit her online portfolio at www.michelefrancisco.com.

Leave A Comment

Go to Top