Deep, glistening red. Sexy, assertively perfumed aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri and baking spices, with a hint of cola in the background. Juicy and focused on the palate, Jay's 2017 Pinot Noir offers vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and rose pastille flavors and a late jolt of spicy white pepper. Made in a fresh, exuberant style, with silky tannins sneaking in slowly to add shape and grip to the impressively long, spice-accented finish. Aged in 30% new oak.
93 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Jul 2020)
A lovely wine, elegantly complex and expressive, with raspberry and rose petal aromas accented by a hint of cardamom. Builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029. 2,974 cases made.
93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Feb 2021)
A continuing exploration of French winemaking technique applied to Oregon terroir, the latest releases from Nicolas-Jay show a savvy complexity that rewards your focused attention. Here the strawberry fruit is accented with flavors of composted earth, coffee grounds and cocoa powder, all well-integrated and proportionate. The wine is supremely tasty right from the start, and should continue to provide pleasure during the course of this decade.
92 points, Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2020)
Very attractive, ripe red and dark cherries, framed in ground espresso, leading to a rich, red-cherry and plum palate that has abundant flesh and spicy, cherry-pip tang to close. Drink or hold.
92 points, James Suckling (Jul 2019)