Arterberry Maresh "Maresh Vineyard" Chardonnay 2022
(Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon) - [JS 98] [WA 96] [VM 96]

About The Winery:

The Maresh family has had a long and memorable presence in the Dundee Hills. In 1980 Jim and Loie’s daughter, Martha, married Fred Arterberry, Jr. who was one of the first winemakers in Oregon to have a degree in fermentation science from the University of California at Davis. Fred Arterberry was one of the early pioneer winemakers the 1970’s and produced many highly acclaimed wines from the Maresh Vineyard. In 1983 Martha and Fred had a son, Jim. His father’s winery label — Arterberry — closed upon Fred’s death in 1990. Beginning in 2005 Jim founded his own winery, Arterberry Maresh.

Raised on his family’s farm since he was born has given Jim a strong connection to and appreciation of the Red Hills of Dundee. He knows the vineyards, the neighbors and the various seasons and vintages that challenge and reward each grape grower and winemaker. His is a deep history of family, farming and winemaking. His wines reflect that heritage and the experience of three generations farming since 1959.”

About the Wine:

Picked fully ripe in late October. Asian pear, coriander, apricot. Oily and dense with layers of sweet yellow fruit. A wildly perfumed wine similar to only the 2008.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - James Suckling:
“Rich golden color with beautiful notes of mangoes, candied lemons, oranges, lots of spices, hits of toffee, peach pit, Sichuan pepper and umami, with a white truffle fragrance. Full and broad with so much depth and so many layers. Polished, pristine and super refined, with firm phenolic tension and mineral verve. Lovely texture and outstanding balance. It lasts for minutes. Drink or hold." (May 2024)

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 growing season in the Willamette Valley was particularly long and cool, and growers worried about achieving full ripeness. Luckily, there was record-breaking heat in October, which provided the final push needed for ripening. “The 2022 vintage was perfect for this block simply because it seemed like it would never ripen,” second-generation winemaker Jim Maresh says of the Wente clone vines planted in 1983 at his family's Maresh Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. The vines sit at the top of a hill at around 750 feet on an east-facing slope, where they receive morning rather than afternoon sun. Grapes were finally harvested on October 26, and despite the wine's modest 12% alcohol, it's incredibly powerful and offers unparalleled concentration. Matured in 50% new French oak, the 2022 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard features aromatics that shift continually in the glass. Brioche, hazelnut and matchstick complement a core of peach cobbler and honey-drizzled crème fraîche. The palate is just as luxurious, its satiny, mouth-coating flavors foiled by electric, linear acidity—a feature that sets it apart from the ripe, tropical versions sometimes found in California. Just 100 cases were made. Drink 2025-2040."

96 Points - Vinous:
"Anjou pear, almond custard, anisette, sweet smoke, mint—this list goes on and on as the 2022 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard seduces from the first tilt of the glass. This is velvety smooth yet energetic and cool-toned in character, with a perception of sweetness that comes only from its late-harvest origins. White peach mixes with gingery spice over a core of brilliant acidity, taking on a lovely contrast of salty minerals toward the close. The 2022 displays fantastic length and concentration, leaving the palate drenched in primary fruit as a subtle coating of tannins fades under an air of lemon oil and spice. Nearly a minute goes by, and the 2022 can still be sensed on the palate. Wow. Drink 2026-2036." -EG (5/24)