Thoughts on J. Christopher *TN added 11 Olenik Pinot*

WINE TALK
1

I have been looking to get back into – expand my OR pinot horizons, and while browsing through the Sec online inventory, the J. Christopher pinots caught my eye. They seem well priced for the single vineyard wines (all under $40) and generally carry good critic scores. I don’t think I have ever seen a note on WB, and the CT notes are pretty sparse. Looking at David S’s reviews, I find his extended tasting note prose difficult to assess when I don’t have a frame of reference to apply to the wine.
How would one categorize the wines? More red fruited and nervy like Belle Pente or Evesham Wood or larger framed like a Bergstrom (off the top of my head)? Good experience aging them?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

2

Michael Alberty @ Storyteller may me able to answer your question. Most of the J. Christopher wines I have bought are whites and roses for my wife which we like very well. Just got back into OR Pinot, but not a record of the J. Christopher Pinots yet. [cheers.gif]

3

I’ve been buying J. Christopher for quite a few years. I drank a glass or two of the '12 Dundee Hills at Oregon Wines on Broadway last week. Year in, year out, the wines are on the graceful so-called AFWE end of the spectrum. The '12 was a bit darker fruited by virtue of the vintage perhaps, but still of that mold. I would describe it as similar to Eyrie Willamette in style and flavor profile.

4

Helpful reference point Mitch, thank you. Pulled the trigger on a few 2011 ‘Olenik’ vineyard, I never even heard of it before (in the Chehalem Mountains). Really looking forward to seeing what’s under the hood so to speak.

5

The wines are excellent. Jay Somers is a former Cameron-ite with a fine track record making largely under-appreciated Pinots. Eyrie-like but typically a little darker. AFWE-leaning. Nowhere near the funk of Camerons. World of Fine Wine Magazine just swooned over some of his 2011 SVDs…deservedly so.

RT

6

Dale, I haven’t tried J. Christopher, but FWIW I was talking to Eric at Sec Wines yesterday about shipping some wine. Said I needed two more bottles to fill out a case. Told him I was looking at either the '11 Aberrant Carpe Noctem (Schildknecht 94 pts) ($49) or the '12 Westry Abbey Ridge ($36). He strongly recommended the Westry. (I had a glass a few weeks ago . . . it was very good.)

7

I haven’t had them since the 2010s, when I had the Dundee Hills and the Lumiere. Both were excellent - lean, focused, on the brighter side. I didn’t realize he was a former Cameron-ite, but that makes sense given the style.

IIRC, Eric Pottmeyer at Sec is a big fan of the J. Christopher wines. You might ask him for suggestions - he’s very good at that.

8

I have some empty shippers needing to be exchanged for full ones. Eric has as many J. Christopher Pinots as he has Patti Green and that is saying something! I really do not need anymore wine, but WTF, TW is out of town and I’m not telling. [snort.gif]

9

I tasted through Jay’s 2011s about 4 months ago and was blown away by the quality. Among my favorite 2011s throughout the WV.

10

Very graceful efforts. Buy without reservation. Great people.

11

OK, '11 or '12? [help.gif]

12

Damn, you guys got me thinking about those J.Christopher '11s at Sec Wines now.

13

yes champagne.gif

14

They are in my top 10 in Oregon. Somewhere between 3 and 10 which are interchangeable for me. First had their 2008s and have been buying a few each year since. The Pavilion and Charlie’s have been my favorites from past vintages but I don’t think those are made anymore. But the Dundee Cuvée and the Blanc de Noir (still) are solid. I’ve never visited, but I sent my parents there and they were great.

15

J Christopher wines are among Oregon’s most elegant wines. They share Cameron’s purity of fruit and laser focus, without the characteristic funk but also without the inherent juiciness.

His wines benefit from some bottle age. 2011s will be better wines but 2012s will drink well sooner. Since you are looking to explore his wines, grab a couple 2012s to try out.

Grab some Brickhouse while you are at it. Cuvée de Tonnelier 2012 is drinking decently. I don’t think Dijonnaise 12 is out yet.

16

Ah, Brickhouse is already well established in my household. In fact, I have a three pack of the 11 ‘Evelyns’ coming in with the J Christopher shipment from Sec next week. The Brickhouse I will hold for a few years, but based upon the enthusiasm for the JC wines, the first bottle is going to be Pobega’d right off the damn fed ex truck .

17

•2011 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Olenik Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains (10/2/2014)
Decanted 3 hrs. – opened one day after delivery. As one would expect, the nose was really tight and in no mood to play around. Pouring from the decanter in to the Burg stem yielded perhaps a touch of what is to come from a future aromatics perspective, but for the now and present, patience. The palate however, was quite a different tune. After the first sip, the word ‘immediacy ‘ instantly stuck my brain as a powerful surge of electric red cherry fruit found every inch inside my mouth, masculine, yet with a gentle almost caressing quality. As my non wine geek girlfriend noted, it was almost akin to the sensation of the first sip of young, high end champagne. Easy to see that even though its still coiled up tight, complexities are sure to emerge with time. Perfect balance to the tannic and acid components. Expansive on the finish, leaving a slight orange peel bitterness that has you going right back to the dinner fork to keep the wine / food companionship in tune. An impressive pinot that is clearly in the AFWE spectrum, yet whose qualities and virtues would not need to be spelled out to a wine novice. Terrific and destined for a long, successful life. (93 points)

18

Opened a humble '07 Willamette last night. Poured quite dark. Would never have guessed it to be an '07; medium to big fruit and modestly heavy/velvety feel on the tongue, darker fruited spectrum for pinot of black cherry and plum. Still quite graceful despite it’s size, nice fairly long finish. I likely paid less than $20 for it from Michael Alberty- a steal at that price.

19

Mitch, The Dundee Hills bottling is the bargain from J. Christopher IMHO. The 2007 was one of my favs of that tasting (although one was corked). It’s a perennial over-performer. Not very red fruited but AFWE approved.

RT

20

“I’ll have what he’s having”.

:slight_smile:

Cool note.