Name: Nicolas-Jay Chardonnay Affinites 2021 750ml
Brand: Nicolas-Jay
SKU: 993356
Price: 73.87 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 92.6 (5 reviews)

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Winery Nicolas-Jay

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Varietal Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region Oregon

The beautiful state of Oregon has, over the past few decades, become increasingly well known and respected for its wine industry, with several small but significant wineries within the state receiving world wide attention for the quality of their produce. Whilst the first vineyards within Oregon were planted in the 1840s, the state's wine industry didn't really take off until the 1960s, when several wine producers from California discovered that the cooler regions of the state were ideal for cultivating various fine grape varietals. Today, Oregon has over four hundred and fifty wineries in operation, the vast majority of which are used for the production of wines made from Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir varietal grapes, both of which thrive in the valleys and mountainsides which characterise the landscape of the state.

Appellation Willamette Valley

The beautiful wine region of Willamette Valley is located in Oregon, one of the main wine producing states of the USA. As in much of Oregon, Willamette Valley benefits enormously from the long, hot summers the state enjoys, and the mineral rich soils which typify the wine regions found there. Willamette Valley has built up a powerful reputation over the past few decades as one of the New World's leading producers of high quality, flavorful and characterful Pinot Noir wines, as the grapes of the Pinot Noir vine thrive particularly well in the region's climatic conditions. Willamette Valley is a fascinating wine region, and is a fine representative for the state of Oregon. Innovative techniques and wine making methods are fairly commonplace there, and the overall produce of the region seems to get better each year.

WE 94pts

Wine Enthusiast

The Affinités is one energetic wine, with lemon, butter and toasted filbert aromas joined by a trace of melting beeswax. The wine's crisp mouthfeel is right at home with zippy acidity and flavors of tangerine, thyme and gin botanicals like juniper berry and cardamom. Serve with halibut steaks grilled with lemon and garlic. (Editors’ Choice)

JD 93pts

Jeb Dunnuck

A blend of their sites, including Bishops Creek and Sprit Hill, the 2021 Chardonnay Affinites pours a youthful bright yellow and is expressive with aromas of ripe Willaims pear, wet stone, honeysuckle, and fresh melon. Medium to full-bodied, it displays an attractive, supple texture with elegant, ripe fruit and a long finish. Evenly balanced with an undercurrent of fresh acidity, it’s drinking beautifully now and will continue to have a solid drinking window over the coming 5-7 years.

WA 92pts

Wine Advocate

The barrel-fermented 2021 Chardonnay Affinités grows in expression as it spends time in the glass, unfurling scents of elderflower, meringue, hazelnuts, honey and flint. The medium-bodied palate derives power from concentrated, honey-laced flavors and a touch of textural grip. It's balanced by vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish. It will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle.

WS 92pts

Wine Spectator

Refined and precise, offering expressive flavors of apple and lemon laced with orange blossom and spice notes. Drink now through 2025. 440 cases made.

JS 92pts

James Suckling

This smooth, balanced, yet fresh-tasting wine is blended from several sites in the northern Willamette Valley and offers appetizing, bright, fresh apples and light oak spices. Charming and drinkable now, but no hurry.

Winery Notes

A portion of this wine is sourced from Nicolas-Jay's estate vineyard, Bishop Creek, located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, along with three outstanding Eola-Amity appellation vineyards: Lone Star, Von Oehsen and Spirit Hill. Each of these sites contributes an array of aromatics and textures and, equally important, high natural acidity which the AVA is known for.