2022 KELLEY FOX PINOT NOIR MARESH VINEYARD Golden Crowned Sparrow WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Many years ago, while staying on the Maresh farm one night during harvest, I heard a songbird in one of Jim Maresh Sr.’s sequoias singing in minor keys just before first light. It took years to learn what this bird was. I had listened to countless songbird recordings to find it. Well, it was the Golden-Crowned sparrow. These lovely sparrows migrate south at night along the Pacific from Alaska and Western Canada in the fall. 

The Maresh Golden is a medium, youthful and rich blue-red with brilliant transparency. Of course, the nose is full of Hood strawberries with the cool freshness of rain and the Pacific Ocean in the spring air, along with dark red cherries and spice. This beautifully structured wine has disarming purity and weightless power.

Appellation: Dundee Hills A.V.A.

Picking Date: 11 October 2022 (from several blocks at Maresh-these vines were planted on their own roots in 1978 and 1991)

Barrels: neutral Burgundy barrels (228L) made from French forests

Bottling Date: 11 July 2023

Alcohol: 12.5 %

Whole Cluster: about 30%

Cases Produced: 433 cases