As the 2022 harvest unfolded in Oregon I followed the Instagram feeds, spoke with winemakers, and read vintage reports taking note of phrases like "miracle vintage" that started popping up all over the place. The growing season started with a devastating frost, and unprecedented snow fall in some areas. Most growers reported 75% loss of the first shoots growing on the vines. Most vineyards bounced back and pushed up new growth, but now everything was 4-6 weeks behind schedule. Growers needed a great Summer and Autumn to salvage the disastrous start...and that is exactly what they got! By the time harvest started, the horrors of that April frost seemed a distant memory as pristine fruit made its way to wineries. Fast forward 18 months and I was very excited to see some of the first Pinot Noirs of the vintage come across my desk. The 2022 Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills bottling was one of the first examples I tasted. Now, keep in mind I had very high expectations for the vintage because of the aforementioned hype. Also, Arterberry was already one of my producers in the region raising my hopes even higher. Despite that, I was still absolutely flabbergasted by how good it was! The purity of fruit, the sheer grace and brilliance of the texture. The layers and depth of flavor on the palate whilst remaining ethereal and lifted. Perfect ripeness, silken texture, piquant acidity, sultry savory, earthy tones. A wine you can quaff without care for its easygoing approachability, or one you can muse over for hours, teasing apart it's intricate nuances. This is an absolute benchmark wine for the quality of the vintage and is also a powerful statement proving that brilliant wines don't have to be expensive. I can't think of a wine that's given me more sheer enjoyment than this one over the past few months at any price. Absolutely fantastic stuff!

I don’t know what’s more mesmerizing about the 2022 Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills Pinot Noir — the limpid garnet color glistening in the glass, or the glorious aromas of fresh cherries and dried rose petals that swirl above it. In an early morning tasting I was struck dumb at first, simply scrawling “wow” and “LOVE” in my notes. This elegant Burgundian-styled elixir is so vibrant, with impeccable clarity and balance. Crunchy fresh summer cherries, raspberry, wild strawberries, soft hints of rose, and Earl Grey tea with bergamot coming to the fore. The lingering finish is a sensual refrain that brings me right back to “wow” and “LOVE.”

Aromas of wild strawberries, fresh pomegranates, rose petals, red apple skins, hibiscus juice, and dried spices. On the palate, crunchy red berries, oolong tea, and a nice touch of saline. Light with a slight grip on the finish. Arterberry Maresh has always been one of my favorite producers from Willamette Valley. They have a distinctive style, that is always refreshing. An excellent vintage, well known producer, at this price? You can't go wrong!