Jay Summers founded J. Christopher in 1996 and served as winemaker for many years, but stepped down in 2019 to devote himself fully to this personal project.
He currently continues to make wine in the Dundee Hills area of the Willamette Valley at vineyards he has worked on for decades, and says he would like to limit production to around 1,500 cases, a much smaller amount than before.
This wine is sourced from Nicholas Family Vineyards and La Collina Vineyard in Dundee Hills.
After wild yeast fermentation and subsequent malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in French barrels for 11 months before bottling.
This blend has a quicker release than other JC Summers Pinot Noirs, making it an immediately enjoyable blend.
The wine's name, "Joie de Chien," can be translated into English as "Happy Dog" or "Joy of the Dog." The label features a picture of owner/winemaker Jay's pet dog, Aja, looking at the moon.
Nicholas Family Vineyards (formerly Bella Vida Vineyards) is one of the special vineyards in the Dundee Hills and I have been using grapes from this vineyard since 2001.
The 14.6ha Bella Vida Vineyard, which Steve Whiteside has managed with meticulous care and dedication, was purchased by the Nicholas family in January 2021 and continues to produce the same excellent grapes as before.
Clones: Pommard Wadenswil, Dijon 777 La Collina Vineyard La Collina Vineyard is what I always call my “secret source.”
When I previously made a blend of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, each year I sacrificed barrels that were selected to make the single vineyard "La Collina Pinot Noir" for the blend.
This was a compelling choice as this grape would positively enhance the wine blend.
The vineyard is classic Dundee Hills and is managed by my friend George Hilbery.
I was fortunate that George had a small block left over when I began this new project, which complemented my other Dundee Hills Pinot Noir wines beautifully.
The 0.4ha Pommard clone JC Summers is a collaboration between Jay Christopher Summers and his longtime partner and wife, Rhonda Newell Summers.
The label features a new moon, signifying a new phase in their winemaking adventure.
Owner and native Oregonian Jay Summers has been making wine in the Willamette Valley for over 30 years and launched the J. Christopher brand in 1996.
Jay Summers, who gained winemaking experience under great winemakers such as his mentor John Paul and Adelsheim of Cameron Winery and Dry River in New Zealand, produces small-lot, handcrafted wines using only the best grapes from the Willamette Valley's finest vineyards.
JC Summers’ philosophy is to make Old World style wines – ones that emphasize focus, length and balance.
Jay says, "We don't make fruit bombs.
I want to create wines that have a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and texture.
We want to create a complete wine that goes beyond an explosive mid-palate flavor.
The key is not to rush it and let the wine develop naturally.
To allow the wines to develop at their own pace, human intervention must be kept to a minimum.
" He takes inspiration from Old World wines and applies it to the Willamette Valley terroir.
When Jay isn't busy making wine, he can be found playing guitar and writing new songs for his band, Portland Cement.
Be sure to check out their new album, "The Road to El Groove."