J. Christopher "J.J" Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018
J. Christopher "J.J" Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018
This second-label Willamette Valley wine is a blend of barrels from the three appellations where J. Christopher has long-standing grower relations. The winemaking and fruit sources are the same for all of the wines they produce, but through a top-down barrel selection process, the barrels that are most suited to the very approachable J.J Pinot Noir style are chosen. It’s an appealing, fruit-forward expression of cool-climate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Ratings
Vivid ruby-red. Cherry, blackberry and a hint of licorice on the nose. Bitter cherry and blackberry flavors take on a spicy nuance on the back half. Shows good heft and closes long and chewy, with dusty tannins adding closing grip.
— 90 points, Josh Raynolds
Tasting Notes
ruby red
fruit forward cherry
blackberry
dry earth
medium-long finish
Best to enjoy with
pork
VARIETAL COMPOSITION Pinot Noir
REGION Oregon
COUNTRY United States
APPELLATION(S) Willamette Valley
PROPRIETORS Jay Somers
FOUNDED 1996
WINEMAKER Jay Somers
The J. Christopher winery is located in Oregon’s Northern Willamette Valley, in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It is a small winery that specializes in Pinot Noir made using the traditional methods of Burgundy. The winery is also one of the few in Oregon to produce Sauvignon Blanc, modeled after the great wines of Sancerre. Owner Jay Somers has been making wine in Oregon for more than 15 years, and established the J. Christopher brand in 1996. Jay’s wines are hand-crafted in small lots and are sourced from some of the best vineyards in Oregon.
Somers founded the J. Christopher winery after training with Don Kautzner at Adelsheim Vineyard in Oregon, Neil McCallum at Dry Creek Vineyard in New Zealand, and John Paul at Cameron Winery. Shortly thereafter, Jay relocated his production to his new winery in the Chehalem Mountain AVA and planted the surrounding 40 acres to massale selection Pinot Noir vines and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc (this would become the Appassionata vineyard).
Jay Somers and Ernst Loosen (from Dr. Loosen) met in 2001 and quickly realized that they shared a similar taste and passion for Pinot Noir. The two cemented their friendship in 2004 when Jay traveled to Germany to help the short-handed harvest crew at Dr. Loosen. It wasn’t long before they began talking about collaborating to produce Pinot Noir together in Oregon. Their friendship led to a partnership, and in 2010 they began building a winery and planting a vineyard in Newberg, Oregon.
