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!
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, ...read more
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 candie ...read more
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.
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
