2011 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir

2011 was the first vintage of Arterberry Maresh made at a small winery they built on the Maresh property, and the wines are still made there today. “There’s a big difference between sharing a production space and having your own facility,” Jim Maresh says, noting that he was also able to begin increasing production with the move to his own winery. 2011 was one of the coolest years on record in the Willamette Valley. Healthy yields and low temperatures led to a late harvest and complications from rain. The grapes “hung until damn near November,” Jim recalls. “The rain was so cold that there was no rot pressure, but there was more rain—when it mattered—than in any other vintage I’ve ever seen.” Low sugar levels resulted in wines of around 12% alcohol. The 2011 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is mature and gently rustic with some initial horse saddle character on the nose. With air, it reveals aromas of dried cherry and cranberry, salami and dried rose petals. The light-bodied palate is rustic yet pleasant, offering mushroom, dried herbs and graphite character. It has a finely astringent texture, mouthwatering acidity and a nuanced finish.