Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Carter Vineyard
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Kelley Fox Wines’ Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a region renowned for producing exceptional cool-climate wines.
- A combination of geology, wind patterns, and a temperate climate defines its unique terroir.
- The Carter Vineyard features old, organically farmed vines and is part of a historic property owned by Ken and Karen Wright of Ken Wright Cellars.
- The vines were planted on their own roots back in 1983.
- Drink now or allow it to improve with age.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Winemaking includes the process of Élevage, which involves aging the wine for 10 months in tight-grained, neutral French oak Burgundy barrels.
Tasting Notes: A transparent, youthful, medium-deep, and luxurious red. The Carter Pinot Noir has a rich strawberry/raspberry/red cherry nose with subtle spices, a hint of violets, and ocean-fresh minerals, carried through the palate to a long finish with beautiful tension and power. True to old-school Eola-Amity Hills, this is a wine of great character and needs time.
PRESS
2022 – 98 Jeb Dunnuck | 95 Wine Advocate | 95 Vinous
2023 – 97 Vinous | 96 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.