D. H. Porth Dundee Hills Pinot noir 09

Arterberry Maresh second label

Made by Jim Maresh (Arterberry Maresh Wines) in honor of Ted and Fred Porth, who pioneered on his family's land.

Bright red fruits like pie cherry and cranberry pop in the aromas and work into silky cherry flavors with no rough edges. There's a sneaky finish that appears when the Porth has been open for a while - orange essence, white pepper and a touch of cream lingers. - Marcus

This Pinot is NOT an accident - just like he likes to wow people with the Arterberry Maresh top-tier wines, Jim wants to blow people away with the single best Pinot value.

Officially, D.H. Porth is an Arterberry Maresh second label. Jim wants to keep it separate since it didn't receive "the treatment," which is his way of describing the extended barrel-aging of Arterberry Maresh wines that give them an extra-seamless, silky feel.

But the grape sources are all Arterberry Maresh - with Jim's lifelong Dundee Hills "neighborhood" vineyards making up the wine. The largest component comes from Juliard Vineyard, with significant chunks of Winderlea (formerly Goldschmidt) and Maresh Vineyard. It was aged in 15% new oak.

Run, do not walk. Rent a U-haul if you must. For $160 a case, Jim challenges you to find a better value in Oregon Pinot.

Elsewhere on the web, they call it a bargain at $16.50. We call it a steal at our price of $13.45.

Jim Maresh might be young, but he appreciates those who came before. D. H. Porth Pinot noir is Jim's tribute to two men who made his family farm what it is today.

In 1959, Jim Arterberry Maresh's grandfather, Jim Maresh, bought the original 26 acre Maresh farm in Oregon's Dundee Hills. Then in 1962, the Maresh's neighbor, Emil Sanders, sold them acreage that for the most part, was a prune orchard. Ted Porth was the farmer/helper on the Sanders farm and he started working for the Maresh family.

Originally from Oklahoma, Ted moved into the little red house on the Maresh land and a year later, brought his brother Ferd up to the farm to work with him. Ferd had very little formal education but could take apart and fix a Caterpillar tractor without a manual. Jim's uncle got the mechanical spark from Ferd - he later went on to invent several things including the elliptical trainer! Wine Spectator

The Porth brother's were like uncles to Jim's mom Martha, and according to Jim Maresh Sr., "they were the farm."

This is Jim's tribute to the brothers who made the farm work. Read more: http://avalonwine.com/Arterberry-Maresh-Winery.php#ixzz0z9ZmBo5V