2015 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir

By 2015, Jim Maresh was living on the Maresh property in the Dundee Hills and making wine at his own winery there. Production increased significantly to around 5,000 cases. Heat records set in 2014 were broken again in 2015. "I saw the trend there," Jim explains. "I had to change how I picked the grapes. So, starting in 2016, I implemented the al dente pick, which would define my style going forward." Although the reception of the 2014s and 2015s was positive, "They weren’t really my style," Jim explains. "I was making wine like I always did, but once these came out, I realized I needed to change something. I was determined not to make wine like 2014 and 2015." The 2015 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard has a medium ruby color and savory aromas of cranberry sauce, rhubarb and charcuterie. Although it has the second-highest alcohol in the lineup at 13.9% alcohol, it’s a stunning wine. The medium-bodied palate offers earthy, savory, wild-berry flavors structured by silky tannins and vibrant acidity, and it has a long, complex finish. It blossoms dramatically after a couple of hours in the glass and hasn’t yet reached its peak.