Arterberry Maresh
Wine Advocate Reviews
2014 Vintage
In 2016, Neal Martin of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate wrote:
“There was no Young Thug rapping at 120 decibels when I visited Jim Maresh. That was a shame because I had been learning the lyrics for the last year. Still, the lack of rap was compensated by some of the best range of wines that I tasted from the 2014 vintage. That said, Jim was less complementary and brutally honest about the prior vintage…
I sold off 40% of reds in 2013. It was an ugly vintage, he opined. Rot didn’t affect the whites but Weber and Juliard were declassified.
So I asked Jim how he approached the 2014. In 2014 it cooled down towards the end of the season, so alcohol levels kept under control. I picked most of Maresh Vineyard between 8 and 11 October. I stopped experimenting with whole cluster and went back to basics in 2014. One hundred percent de-stemmed and a long time in old barrels. In 2014, one signature of the wines is the length. They finish so long, which is not normal for a warm vintage. I tend to oxidize hard after the press.
During my stay in Oregon I was explaining to a couple of people about winemakers with the knack. They just get it. They know how to make great Pinot Noir seemingly effortlessly, and practice small things that make a big difference. And Jim Maresh has the knack, because despite his laidback attitude towards life, I reckon he’s not that way at all when it comes to his wines. You can’t make them this good without caring. Whats more, he told me how he sees no reason to price his wines so highly that people can’t enjoy them, a fiscal approach dichotomous to others, they make the error of setting price first and then making the wine to fit it. His 2013s may have hit a bum note, but his 2014s hit the high.”
Arterberry Maresh
Maresh Vineyard Pinot noir 2014 95 points
The 2014 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has a beautiful bouquet with wonderful precision. The vine age does show through here (44-years-old now) with crisp detailed red berry fruit that just exudes Pinot. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well-judged acidity, touches of truffle and undergrowth tincturing the red berry fruit that fans out wonderfully towards the long and satisfying finish. This is a great Pinot Noir from an estate that seems to have thrived in 2014. – Neal Martin
Arterberry Maresh
Weber Vineyard Pinot noir 2014 93 points
The 2014 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1983. It has a very refined bouquet with red cherry, wild strawberry, sous-bois and subtle floral notes – very complex and classy. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, nicely structured with a gentle grip. The fruit veers towards the darker side of the spectrum towards the finish, with blackberry and cranberry fruit, long and edgy. Classy, composed and cool, this is how to make world-class Pinot Noir. – Neal Martin
Arterberry Maresh
Juliard Vineyard Pinot noir 92 points
The 2014 Pinot Noir Juliard Vineyard has a sultry bouquet, more backward with oyster shell, marine-like scents coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very well balanced with brown spices developing towards the finish that fans out with confidence. There is everything you can want in an Oregon 2014 Pinot Noir here, and I suspect it will age with style and aplomb. – Neal Martin
Arterberry Maresh
Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2014 91 points
The 2014 Dundee Hills Chardonnay was bottled in December 2015 after 15 months in wood. It has a taut minerally bouquet with white chocolate and praline scents infusing the citrus fruit, a second bottle showing more lime flower aromas. The palate is chalky on the entry with crisp acidity, fine tension here with a dab of white chocolate towards the refined, slightly saline finish that lingers. This has good potential, but it deserves another year in bottle. – Neal Martin
Arterberry Maresh
Dundee Hills Pinot noir 2014 90 points
The 2014 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is a blend of Maresh, Juliard, Weber, Gehrts and Folie Hill vineyards. It has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, touches of blood orange with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin – a mixture here of red and black fruit, meaty in style with a Pommard-like finish that lingers in the mouth. – Neal Martin
