2021 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard

“The 2021 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard comes from vines planted in the 1970s and is highly expressive this year, pairing concentration and detail. It has a medium ruby color and alluring, feral aromas: wafts of iron, tar and game meats complement a deep core of briary fruit, and it takes its time in the glass to unfold to higher-toned notes of potpourri. Light-bodied, it’s nuanced and detailed, opening to bursts of blood orange and bitters flavors as it moves through the mouth. It has abundant, powdery tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a flourish of spice across the finish. The Weber is already impressive, but it will offer even more after 5-8 years in bottle.

Year after year, the small Arterberry Maresh estate, helmed by third-generation winemaker Jim Maresh, impresses with its singular expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, a result of old vines and no-frills winemaking. Although just 6,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are made annually, this family-run estate epitomizes the best of what Willamette Valley has to offer and is synonymous with Oregon’s old-vine heritage. The wines are concentrated yet elegant, fruity yet flinty and are some of the most impressive wines I’ve tried anywhere—not just in the US. The 2021s covered in this report comprise one of the most impressive lineup I’ve ever tasted at Arterberry Maresh…If you’re looking for wines with a little magic, look no further than this Dundee Hills estate.”