Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2023 Red Wine

Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2023 

Willamette Valley, OR

750 ml

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This family was one of the first to plant vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Jim Maresh's grandparents planted their Maresh vineyard in 1970, and Jim continues the legacy to this day. His Pinot Noirs consistently rate in the 90's. True to the appellation, I would say they're Burgundian in style, but not wimpy at all. This Dundee Hills Pinot is a blend of their Maresh estate vineyard and other neighboring vineyards. An inexpensive yet delicious example of the great Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley! - Wine Factor 

FROM THE WINERY

MARESH VINEYARD

Jory soils are the real ground floor of the winery and Arterberry Maresh. A result of thousands of years of volcanic uplift, flood and erosion, the Dundee Hills are a beautiful landscape of southeastern facing ridges. Slightly warmer and drier than surrounding microclimates, these balanced volcanic, silty-clay-loam soils both retain moisture and drain well. The Maresh family farms own-rooted, non-irrigated Pommard and Wädenswil Pinot Noir from 1970 and 1974 plantings and own-rooted Chardonnay from 1983 plantings. Ranging from 500’ to 800’ elevation, these high elevation vines experience a very long hang-time. The vineyard is managed by Jim Maresh Sr., Martha Maresh, and Steve Mikami.

Jim Maresh: “Living and farming in the Dundee Hills since 1969 has its perks, one of which is our long term relationships with some of the best wine grape farmers in the area. Our Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a blend of Maresh Vineyard and other vineyard fruit from our neighbors.”

WINERY

In 2008, Martha Maresh and Steve Mikami began construction on the Powell Hill Winery. Named after the original pioneer family who farmed the land, the winery sits at the highest point of Maresh Vineyard with a view to the Cascades. Completed in time for the 2011 vintage, it is the first of its kind on the farm. Well placed within a mile of all vineyards, this proximity allows more intimate knowledge of each particular site throughout the seasons and a greater understanding of the sense of places.

WINEMAKING

Fruit is hand harvested, handled minimally and processed immediately. Sugar, acid or water additions have never been needed. Restrained extraction techniques and a preference for neutral French oak helps to highlight the purity of old vine fruit. An interest in judiciously exposing young wines to oxygen early helps achieve aromatic integration, fine texture, length and longevity. The wines are transparent and unadorned, all estate bottled, unfined and unfiltered.

WINEMAKER

Raised on the Maresh family farm, Jim Maresh Jr., worked in the vineyards at an early age and learned to farm grapes in the Dundee Hills from his grandparents, Jim and Loie Maresh and his mother, Martha Maresh. His first winemaking lessons came from gleaning grapes after harvest and in 2005 he founded Arterberry Maresh Winery honoring his father’s earlier label (Arterberry) and his Maresh history. Jim produces only Pinot noir and Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills – with no filtration or additions (water, sugar, acid, nutrients, etc.) Each vintage reflects the year in the vineyard and every vintage has its story.

Pinot Noir

Destemmed in 1¼ ton lots, Jim’s light touch in the winery allows the intrinsic character of the wine to blossom. Passive temperature management ensures spontaneous fermentation proceeds and is monitored and guided by sensory analysis, gentle extraction techniques and low peak temperatures. Immediately upon reaching dryness, the lots are gently pressed in a half-ton wood bladder press and settle 2-4 weeks before being transferred to 5%-10% new French Oak barrels for 14-18 months. They are only racked to prepare for bottling. Maresh Pinots tend towards pure flavors of concentrated red berries, black tea, sandalwood, floral tones, stony spice, and berry bramble. The silken tannins and long, intricate mouth feel speak to the elegant profile of this wine, which always benefits from ample aeration upon opening.