Arterberry Maresh

I'm pretty big on first impressions. I think back to Jim Maresh's first visit to Avalon, carrying his lone wine - 2005 Maresh Vineyard Pinot noir, which made my head spin exorcist-style. Then his second visit soon after, with a bottle of wine that was nothing short of a total epiphany - 2005 Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay.

Back then, Jim had two wines. It was easy, right?

Now it's 2012. Jim made three of my top 10 2009 Pinots, and 2 of my top 10 2008 wines. He has racked up big Wine Advocate scores for nearly every wine he has made. Regardless of what you think of wine scores, that is a huge achievement.

In 2011, Jim made a $15 2009 Pinot - DH Porth - from ridiculously good Dundee Hills fruit, that sold out deservedly fast. His 2008 and 2009 wines are sold out. On his follow-up release to a 94-point Pinot, he lowered the price. Who does that?

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, 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!

Read more: Arterberry Maresh Vineyard - Three Generations of Oregon Wine

Jim's Wines