Oregon meet Burgundy, Burgundy meets Oregon with Nicolas Jay, the joint-venture between former record label boss Jay Boberg and Burgundy vigneron Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet in Vosne. They have known each other since 1988 when Jean-Nicolas was studying in the United States, though it was a visit to the region in 2011 that reignited Jay's interest in the region. Jay told me that together they had spent a long time seeking the right kind of terroir in which to start their project, which they finally found in Bishop Creek Vineyard, which was formerly part of the source for Jason Lett's "Black Cap" label at Eyrie. They also recruited Seattle-born Tracy Kendall, who joined us for the tasting. She was an oenologist at Adelsheim for five years, having previously worked at Torii Mor and Cristom and in a twist of fate, she is back at Adelsheim since the Nicolas Jay wines are being vinified in their winery until they get their own up and running. The vines have been converted to organic viticulture, although both Jay and Tracy are doubtful they would ever convert to biodynamics. The fruit here is 100% destemmed and pressed slowly, higher temperatures allowed during fermentation to extract color and body. Jay also told me that from the 2017 vintage, they will have some Chardonnay, from grafted over Pinot Gris vines. "We tend to have lower alcohol levels at around 13.5%," Jay told me. "In 2015 it is even lower at 12.5%. We are the first or one of the first to pick in 2014 and 2015." In these early days, the production is 1,600 cases and currently sold in seven US States. Obviously, with someone like Jean-Nicolas partnering the project, there is an element of class to these wines, harmonious and nicely poised.

Nicolas-Jay Bishop Creek Chardonnay 2023
13% abv
The 2023 Chardonnay Bishop Creek is sweetly scented, with nuances of crushed stone and mint giving way to lemon sorbet and apricot. It feels soothingly round, with crisp pit fruit cascading across the palate while a gentle spike of citrus adds form toward the close. Saline concentration lingers, mixed with pleasant flintiness, as the 2023 finishes long and youthfully tense.
93 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous July 2025
Nestled in the hills of the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, Nicolas-Jay’s Bishop Creek Vineyard is a famed and enchanting site acquired by the Domaine in 2014. Concurrently steep and rolling, the vineyard sits above the town of Yamhill in the rain-shadow of the Coast Range, with elevations ranging from 270 to 600 feet and predominantly North-South plantings across 13.5 planted acres, 11 of which are pinot noir. The densely-spaced, own-rooted vines — the majority planted in 1988 and 1990 — are farmed using 100% organic methods, and year after year produce exceptional fruit full of character. The result is a site as unmistakable in a cuvée as it is beautifully distinctive as a single vineyard bottling.
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2023 | Chardonnay | Duty Paid | Nicolas-Jay | North America | Oregon | Still | USA | White | Willamette Valley | Wine | Yamhill-Carlton- Reference #:
- 25356
- Strength
- 13 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Grapes
- Chardonnay
- Organic
- Yes
- Biodynamic
- Yes
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Sparkling
- No
