Kelley Fox Wines Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir “Golden Crowned Sparrow Blocks”
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks of Pinot Noir were planted on their own roots in 1978 and 1991.
- These Maresh Vineyard blocks are named after a songbird that Kelly Fox heard in Jim Maresh Sr.’s sequoia tree during harvest. This bird migrates south at night along the Pacific Coast from Alaska and Western Canada, making its song audible only during specific seasons.
- All of the good things Kelley Fox loved about the Maresh farm over the many years are in this wine. 2023 was her final vintage of this wine.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Hand-harvested. No whole clusters, meaning all the fruit was completely destemmed. The wine was matured in neutral Burgundy barrels (228L) made from French oak.
Tasting Notes: The Maresh Golden is light medium red with youthful blue and purple undertones. It is brilliantly transparent, and the light is faceted like a gemstone. The nose is filled with perfectly ripe Hood strawberries and red raspberries with subtle spices and minerals. There is a feeling of immensely appealing freshness. The mouth follows suit and with more intensity and stuffing than it would appear in the glass. Juicy and mouthwatering, it’s loaded with deliciousness. It is finely structured with detailed tannins and a silky long finish.
PRESS
2022 – 96+ Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ Wine Advocate | 94 Vinous
2023 – 95 Jeb Dunnuck
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Kelley Fox Wines, established in 2007 in Oregon by Kelley Fox and her father, Gus Sterns, is a small winery known for its small-production, single-vineyard wines. The winery began with just over 100 cases of wine and crafts its wines from grapes it leases or sources from several top vineyards in Oregon, highlighting the diverse soils of the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas. The winery adheres to a natural winemaking philosophy, uses organic or biodynamic farming, and employs minimal intervention in the cellar. Today, the wines created by Kelley Fox are sought after, consistently receive high scores, and are highly praised by top wine reviewers.