Jim Arterberry Maresh
Best Young Oregon Winemaker

Best Young Winemaker - that's a bold, brash statement, which aptly describes Jim Arterberry Maresh. At twenty four years old, Jim is demonstrating a level of winemaking maturity that is nearly unheard of. He exudes confidence about his wines, and his place among Oregon's producers.

He's had a lot of help, most notably from his "neighbors" -- Pinot noir and Chardonnay vines that were planted before he was born. Jim grew up surrounded by Dundee Hills vines. His grandparents planted Maresh vineyard; his father made one of the highest rated Oregon Pinots in history.

When Jim first brought us his 2005 Arterberry Maresh Pinot noir to taste, it stunned us. Was it just a fluke, perfect grapes from a lovely vintage? The answer came Friday. Jim poured his 2006 Dundee Hills and 2006 White Rose Pinots, and 2005 Chardonnay and I went straight to my computer to type an e-mail to Jean with the subject line "Best Young Oregon Winemaker."

Arterberry Maresh Cellars
"Dundee Hills" Pinot noir 06 $35/$31.46
125 cases made
An ethereal and elegant example of 2006 Pinot noir. Jim's style emphasizes texture, and the Dundee Hills 06 shows its seamless, supple body at first sip. Picked a bit earlier than most 2006 Pinots, it retained a beautiful thread of acidity that's woven around juicy dark plums and berries, with subtle notes of clay and anise on the finish. The wine is made from declassified, old vine fruit from a very well-known Dundee Hills vineyard (eh hem) and reflects it's origin. A freakin' great value in ageworthy Oregon Pinot.

Arterberry Maresh Cellars
"White Rose" Pinot noir 06
$75/$67.45
50 cases made
Liquid candy! This juice is mesmerizing, filled with seductively sweet strawberry-rhubarb pie. Ripe and mouthfilling, but not the tiniest bit cloying, the White Rose adds delicious cherry and candied rose petal (typical of the vineyard) to the two-minute finish. Aged entirely in neutral oak - all two barrels of it! - it's silky and round, without a hitch.

Arterberry Maresh Cellars
Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 05 $35/$31.46
50 cases made
Maresh Vineyard, one of the oldest in Oregon, contains a few rows of old vine Chardonnay fruit. Easily one of the top Oregon Chardonnays we've tasted in a decade, this sophisticated white offers up green apple and sweet lime custard, with vibrant, focused acidity and hints of stony minerality. With almost two years of barrel aging, all in neutral oak, the wine has a round, unctuous mouthfeel, which is certain to intensify with age. A fantastic Chard for cellaring, or with food. All 50 cases made are highly recommended!

In 1983, while pregnant with Jim, Martha Arterberry planted the Chardonnay vines whose fruit go into Jim's 2005 Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay. Located at the top of the vineyard, just behind the retreat house where Jim makes his wines, the deeply rooted, treelike vines produce small amounts of fruit.

Arterberry Maresh Cellars
Maresh Vineyard Pinot noir 05 $75/$67.45
75 cases made
Dang. Beautifully textured and rich, with a density of black fruit, boysenberry, ripe cherry and raspberry flavors accented with dried herbs and earth. Totally seamless.

This very small production wine is made from 36 year old vines, the oldest block of Maresh vineyard. Jim lists John Thomas (Thomas Winery) and John Paul (Cameron Winery) as his Oregon Pinot role models. This wine was a January 2008 Avalon Wine Reserve Pinot Noir Club Selection.

Arterberry Maresh
Tasting Collection

1 - Maresh Vineyard Pinot noir 05 $75
3- Dundee Hills Pinot noir 06 $35 ea.
1- White Rose Vineyard Pinot noir 06 $75
1 -Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 05 $35

$275.00
Save $15 from retail

History of Arterberry Maresh

The year 1959 is not one often associated with the Oregon wine industry, but it's the year that Jim and Loie Maresh purchased their 27 acre hilltop orchard smack in the center of Dundee's Red Hills -- now called the "Cote d'Or" of Oregon Pinot noir. Gradually expanding to 124 acres of possibly the most "prime" vineyard real estate in Oregon, Maresh Vineyard is the fifth oldest in Oregon, with plantings from 1970 on.

Jim and Loie's daughter, Martha Maresh, married Fred Arterberry in the early 1980's. Fred made wine for the family (at the Eyrie Vineyards' winery) under the "Arterberry Cellars" label. Fred's 1985 Arterberry Reserve Pinot noir received 95 points from Wine Spectator, an unheard of score for the time. (Only eleven Oregon wines in total have received a 95 from Wine Spectator).

In 1990, with Fred's passing, the Arterberry Cellars label disappeared. Rex Hill, Penner-Ash, Archery Summit, Daedalus, Sineann, and Scott Paul wineries purchased the fruit, with some wines made under the Red Barn label for sale at the Maresh family tasting room.

Jim Arterberry-Maresh, Martha and Fred's son (pictured above), grew up with the vines, hearing about his father's wines and learning the vineyard business. Last year, he revived the Arterberry label, incorporating his last name "Arterberry Maresh". Jim's first releases show that Fred's skills have been passed down. The third generation of Maresh Vineyard and Arterberry Maresh Cellars is off and running!

LAST CALL KEN WRIGHT 2006 PINOT NOIRS

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot noir Abbott's Claim 06
$52.95/$47.66
Referring to the 2005 vintage of this wine, from Robert Parker's website, 10/07:"a fragrant perfume of pain grille, scorched earth, smoke, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. The layers of sweet black fruits are matched by crisp acidity and well-concealed tannin. The finish is long and pure."

Abbott's Claim Vineyard was purchased and developed by Ken Wright in 2000. Pinot noir made from the vineyard is one of his newer offerings.

The 2005 Abbott's Claim received 92 points from Robert Parker.

Robert Parker gave the 2005 vintage of this wine 92 points. Pinots from this vineyard are typically broad, fleshy wines, with red raspberry and other red fruits dominating. There's usually an appealing hint of nutmeg and anise on the finish -- a pleasant herbal note, a bit like the garrigue of Southern France, can often be discerned. It typically takes a year or two to fully open and present its flavors.

Ken Wright Carter Vineyard Pinot noir 06
$52.95/$47.66
Referring to the 2005 vintage, from Robert Parker's website, 10/07:
"...lots of blue fruit aromas and flavors. It has superb depth as well as bracing acidity and well-integrated tannin. The long, pure finish lasts for 45+ seconds."-

Robert Parker rated the 2005 vintage of this wine 93 points. Usually a blueberry and blue plum component mingles with red and black cherry flavors in the Pinot noir from this vineyard. Ken has worked with this wine for over 25 years, and always creates a dark, big wine that takes a year or two to fully open and show its excellence.

Ken Wright Cellars Savoya Pinot noir 06
$52.95/$47.66
Referring to the 2005 vintage of this wine, from Robert Parker's website, 10/07: "It offers a fragrant perfume, a plush palate, and a lighter, more elegant style than its peers. There is bracing acidity to provide uplift, excellent balance, and ample ripe, sweet fruit."

Robert Parker gave the 2005 vintage of this wine 92 points.

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541-752-7418

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