Nicolas Jay Bishop Creek Chardonnay, Yamhill-Carlton District, USA 2023

Bishop Creek Chardonnay 2023 is a striking single‑vineyard Chardonnay from the Yamhill‑Carlton District in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, made from old, own‑rooted vines planted on marine sedimentary soils and farmed organically. The wine shows vibrant aromatics of saline minerality, lemon verbena, and citrus pith, with nuances of apricot, flint, and fresh herbs. On the palate it is medium‑bodied and finely balanced, combining juicy Meyer lemon and orchard fruit with bright acidity and a chalky, mineral core that carries through to a long, energetic finish. With about 14 months in French oak (around 25 % new) adding subtle texture, this 2023 Chardonnay is lively and expressive now but has the structure to age gracefully through the late 2020s and into the early 2030s.

" A youthful yellow color, the 2023 Chardonnay Bishop Creek sees about 25% new oak for about 13 months. In the glass, it offers very delicate, flinty wet stone notes that in no way take over, and the fruit shines through in notes of honeyed lemon, ripe apples, hints of ginger, and elegant hints of vanilla. The wine is full-bodied and stays light on its feet, with balanced acidity and a silky texture. It’s a lovely Chardonnay now with a more immediate feel for the range, and it should also cruise another 10 years." Jeb Dunnuck 95