The popularity of Oregon wines has grown exponentially over the past several years, and a high scoring, classically-styled Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir just landed here at Hi-Time... and they are show-stoppers! These newly-released wines from Arterberry Maresh have, respectively, earned 97 and 95 point scores!
The Maresh family's history is deeply rooted in the Dundee Hills. A pivotal moment occurred in 1980 when Martha, daughter of Jim and Loie Maresh, married Fred Arterberry, Jr. Arterberry was a significant figure in early Oregon winemaking, notable for being among the first in the state to hold a fermentation science degree from UC Davis. Throughout the 1970s, he crafted numerous highly acclaimed wines from the Maresh Vineyard under his own label. After Fred's death in 1990, the original Arterberry winery closed. Fred and Martha's son, Jim Maresh, honored his family's legacy by establishing the current winery, Arterberry Maresh, in 2005.
The 2023 'Old Vines' Pinot Noir is a distinctive blend, utilizing fruit from the Maresh and Weber vineyards. This wine was crafted exclusively from own-rooted, non-irrigated vines, a factor often contributing to unique vine expression. In the cellar, the grapes were 100% destemmed and underwent fermentation using wild yeast, maintaining a hands-off approach. The resulting wine was then aged for 22 months in barrel and is composed of a blend of 65% Pommard and 35% Wadenswil clones. Beautiful red fruit such as cherries and berries run over the palate with a nuance of red flowers and clove to bring the touch of earthy and savory component that make this wine shine.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "Tasting with Jim Maresh is always a pleasure. It’s inspiring to absorb his enthusiasm for what he does, his love of the region and his vision for Oregon’s untapped potential. The wines here always communicate purity, energy and complexity. Maresh prefers to pick fruit 'al dente' (early) in order to achieve a certain 'crunchiness' in the wines, but the truth is that he’s actually picking at the ideal ripeness level for his sites."
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Old Vines blossoms in the glass, where balsamic-tinged black cherries mingle with dried roses, nuances of gravel dust and a hint of clove. This wine is seamless and elegant, silken in texture, with a solid core of minerals to balance citrus-infused wild berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. It tapers off chewy and extremely long, leaving the palate watering for more, all framed by regal tannins."
The Maresh family's history is deeply rooted in the Dundee Hills. A pivotal moment occurred in 1980 when Martha, daughter of Jim and Loie Maresh, married Fred Arterberry, Jr. Arterberry was a significant figure in early Oregon winemaking, notable for being among the first in the state to hold a fermentation science degree from UC Davis. Throughout the 1970s, he crafted numerous highly acclaimed wines from the Maresh Vineyard under his own label. After Fred's death in 1990, the original Arterberry winery closed. Fred and Martha's son, Jim Maresh, honored his family's legacy by establishing the current winery, Arterberry Maresh, in 2005.
The 2023 'Old Vines' Pinot Noir is a distinctive blend, utilizing fruit from the Maresh and Weber vineyards. This wine was crafted exclusively from own-rooted, non-irrigated vines, a factor often contributing to unique vine expression. In the cellar, the grapes were 100% destemmed and underwent fermentation using wild yeast, maintaining a hands-off approach. The resulting wine was then aged for 22 months in barrel and is composed of a blend of 65% Pommard and 35% Wadenswil clones. Beautiful red fruit such as cherries and berries run over the palate with a nuance of red flowers and clove to bring the touch of earthy and savory component that make this wine shine.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "Tasting with Jim Maresh is always a pleasure. It’s inspiring to absorb his enthusiasm for what he does, his love of the region and his vision for Oregon’s untapped potential. The wines here always communicate purity, energy and complexity. Maresh prefers to pick fruit 'al dente' (early) in order to achieve a certain 'crunchiness' in the wines, but the truth is that he’s actually picking at the ideal ripeness level for his sites."
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Old Vines blossoms in the glass, where balsamic-tinged black cherries mingle with dried roses, nuances of gravel dust and a hint of clove. This wine is seamless and elegant, silken in texture, with a solid core of minerals to balance citrus-infused wild berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. It tapers off chewy and extremely long, leaving the palate watering for more, all framed by regal tannins."
