I love old vine Oregon Pinot Noir. As we roll on in Oregon Wine Month we share with you one of the historic sites in the Willamette Valley. The famed Maresh Vineyard produces some of the great Pinot Noir fruit in the valley. The vineyard, which is the 5th oldest in Oregon, is mainly planted to Pommard and Wadenswil clones, with the oldest site located on Worden Hill Road.
Winemaker Jim Maresh is the third generation of the Maresh family working on the farm.
I fondly recall tasting through these wines from my uncle’s Oregon wine collection more than a decade ago. They were wines that were well-structured and beautifully textured, with dense red fruits. These wines remain deeply seated under the radar but are not to be missed.
I loved the wines across the board, starting with the fresh and vibrant 2018 Arterberry Maresh ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is a beautifully textured bottling with a smooth mouthfeel. Do not miss out on the scintillating 2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Winemaker’s Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a joy to consume now even in its youthful, red fruit-driven stage. Learn more about this historic site at https://www.mareshredbarn.com and here are my reviews of the brilliant new wines by Arterberry Maresh.
2018 Arterberry Maresh ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- Sourced from vines first planted in 1983, this spent 12 months in French oak barrels and then a further six months in stainless steel drums before bottling. Bright pear and lemon rind tones fill the nose, with baking spice dusted Challah bread. The palate is vibrant, with serious tension. Lemon oil and kumquat flavors combine with minerals and sourdough bread flavors on the palate. Showing good length and viscosity, this beautiful new Chardonnay will cellar well for another decade and possibly more. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2018 Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in color, the 2018 Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous, red fruit-driven bottling that is already nicely evolved at the four year mark. Highly perfumed on the nose, this takes on red rose petals and loganberry preserves with bright strawberry and peat moss undertones. The palate is wonderfully textured, with rich red fruits, wet stone and shades of forest floor. This is exceedingly delicious wine to consume now, as the 2018 Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh’ Pinot Noir will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2035- 94
2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh’ Pinot Noir-A touch leaner and more linear than the 2018, yet very pretty, the 2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh’ Pinot Noir is a fantastic effort from this somewhat challenging vintage for Oregon red wines. A plush texture greets you, as layers of medium bodied red fruits mingle with copious minerals and stony undertones.The finesse is outstanding, as is the good sense of length. Enjoy this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92
2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Old Vines’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Old Vines’ Pinot Noir is sourced from vines planted back in 1970 which neighbor their Red Barn tasting room. The aromatic range is outstanding from red cherry candy to pine needles, cran-orange, as well as shades of cardamom. The palate is soft and inviting, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Highly enjoyable now, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2033- 92
2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Weber Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Weber Vineyard’ is located near Worden Hill, as vines were first planted back in 1983. A whiff of volcanic soil greets you with leather, peat moss and bright red fruits on the nose. The palate is wonderfully earthy and Burgundian, with a silky smooth texture and generous length. Enjoy this beauty over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2035- 93
2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Winemaker Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in color, the outstanding 2019 Arterberry Maresh ‘Winemaker Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection from 1974 plantings. The nose is highly perfumed with red florals, black raspberry and suggestions of black tea with freshly tilled soils. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious stuffing considering the vintage. Really good after a few hours of air, try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2022-2038- 94