2022 Nicolas-Jay Bishop Creek Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir, Oregon

The 2022 Pinot Noir from Bishop Creek Vineyard, planted in the late ’80s, pours a deep ruby garnet and showcases the vineyard’s bold character. Aromas of black raspberries, red currants, and dried cranberry are interwoven with sagebrush and delicate lavender, while subtle notes of sandalwood and black tea add an earthy complexity. The palate is bold and structured, with wild forest berries like boysenberry and red plum balancing a mineral backbone of graphite and wet stones. Tightly wound at first, the wine softens with time, revealing layers of roasted espresso, violet petals, and baked cherries. Grippy tannins control the wine, while vibrant acidity keeps everything balanced. Built for longevity, this Pinot Noir will age gracefully over the next 15 years, gradually softening and revealing even greater complexity. Bravo to the winemaking team at Nicolas-Jay for this stunning wine.

98 points International Wine Report

The Bishop Creek was planted in the late 1980s or early ‘90s and was purchased by Jean-Nicolas and Jay in 2014. Pouring a ruby/magenta hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Bishop Creek Vineyard is spicy in the glass, with notes of cherry lozenge, wild herbs, toasted spice, and violet flowers. Juicy and balanced on the palate, it’s generous but well-balanced, with ripe tannins, even acidity, and a clean, long finish. It is going to drink well over the next 15 or more years and will only improve and gain in umami richness as it ages.

97 points Audrey Frick jebdunnuck.com

Brambleberries picked roadside unite with figs and dried strawberries to create an aromatic dream team. The wine's elegant texture and balanced mix of restrained alcohol, citrusy acidity and silky tannins make each sip a pleasure. Those sips are rewarded with flavors of juicy red raspberries, lemon zest and a mildly chalky note. Pair this wine with whatever makes you happy.

96 points Michael Alberty wineenthusiast.com

This is delicate and fragrant, revealing layers of crushed red berries, orange peel, fresh flowers and a hint of dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is polished and refined, with racy acidity, firm, well-structured tannins and a fresh, lingering finish that highlights its finesse. Better from 2027.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Nicolas Jay Bishop Creek Pinot Noir is one of Oregon’s most quietly thrilling single vineyard wines, coming from the Yamhill Carlton AVA where ancient marine sedimentary soils and cool Pacific air create Pinot Noir of remarkable perfume and savoury depth. Bishop Creek sits on these uplifted seabed soils rich in sandstone and siltstone, giving the wine its signature earthy, spicy backbone beneath the bright red fruit. Nicolas Jay is a partnership between Burgundian icon Jean Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo Camuzet and music producer Jay Boberg, a collaboration built on a shared love of terroir driven Pinot Noir and old world precision brought into the Willamette Valley.

In the glass the wine shows a translucent ruby colour, opening with aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, rose petal, forest floor and gentle baking spice. The palate is silky and finely layered, delivering juicy red berries, savoury earth and fine, powdery tannins that carry through to a long, mineral tinged finish. It is beautifully suited to roast duck, lamb, mushroom dishes and grilled salmon, and it has the structure to age gracefully for ten to fifteen years, gaining more truffle, dried flower and spice complexity over time.