Chardonnay "Affinites", Nicolas-Jay, Willamette Valley, OR, 2021

Decanter 94Points

Whispers of lemon curd and fresh mint soften the brace of crisp green apples and limes in this spirited, salt-licked Chardonnay produced by Jean-Nicolas Méo of Méo-Camuzet fame, music mogul Jay Boberg and the American winemaker Tracy Kendall. Vinified entirely in neutral French oak with ambient yeast, it's full-bodied and delightfully supple but pulsates with freshness and transparency too. Delicious young but should evolve beautifully over the next decade.

Wine Enthusiast 94Points

The Affinités is one ener- getic 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.

Jeb Dunnuck 93Points