J.C. Somers, "Joie de Chien" Pinot Noir 2021, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, OR

This young and elegant Pinot Noir is full of ripe red fruits, with base notes of coffee and chocolate. A wonderful easy-drinking wine, it could also age nicely for several years.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: OR

APPELLATION (AVA): Dundee Hills

REGION: Willamette Valley

VINEYARD(S): Nicholas Family Vineyard, La Colina Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 100% Pinot Noir (mostly Pommard clone, some Wadenswil clone)

SOIL: Red volcanic Jory soil

PRACTICE: Sustainable, organic

VINIFICATION: Native fermentations (primary and malolactic) , aged for 20 months is a mixture of French oak barrels.

STYLE: Still

COLOR:

BODY: Light to medium

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Dark sweet cherry, vanilla, coffee, cocoa, vegetal

FLAVOR: Red fruits, vegetal

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 13.5%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve slightly chilled. Pair with roasted duck with a sage-cherry sauce.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Jay Christopher Somers and Ronda Newell-Somers

“J.C. Somers is the collaboration between Jay Christopher Somers and his longtime partner and wife Ronda Newell-Somers. The label displays the New Moon which signifies a new phase in their winemaking adventures. After founding and developing the J. Christopher brand in 1996 they are returning to their roots producing small quantities of focused, elegant and terroir driven wines made from the best sites in the Willamette Valley” (jcsomers.wine)

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS: Nicholas Family Vineyard, La Colina Vineyard

Nicholas Family Vineyard

“The Nicholas family purchased the 36-acre acre Bella Vida Vineyards estate in January of 2021 and renamed it Nicholas Family Vineyards, though they will continue to honor Steven Whiteside, who founded Bella Vida Vineyards and planted the amazing vineyard in consultation with Jim Maresh.” (dundeehills.org)

“Bella Vida Vineyard is an exceptional vineyard site in the Dundee Hills. Owned and meticulously farmed by Steve Whiteside, it is one of my favorite sites to work with. I started making wines from this vineyard in 2001 when the vines were still very young, and, over the years, it has steadily matured to become a powerful expression of the Dundee Hill AVA. We currently have 0.5 acres each of the Pommard, Wadenswil and Dijon 777 clones. The vineyard is dry farmed.” (jcsomers.wine)

La Colina Vineyard

“La Colina Vineyard is a vineyard I have always referred to as "secret sauce". In my former winemaking life I was creating much larger Dundee Hills Pinot Noir blends for the national market. Year after year the barrels I selected to do a single vineyard "La Colina Pinot Noir" were sacrificed into the blend, it always elevated the wine in such a positive way it had to be done. This is a classic Dundee Hills site and is farmed by my friend George Hillberry. When I started this new project I was fortunate that George had a small block left and it beautifully complements my other Dundee Hills Pinot Noir wines. We have 1 acre of the Pommard clone.” (jcsomers.wine)

ABOUT THE LABEL: Joie de Chien means “joy of dog” in French, and references Jay's love of dogs. German Shepherds specifically have long been integral members of his family.