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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Declared “one of the most exciting portfolios of wines made in the United States” by Eric Guido of Vinous, these Kelley Fox selections from Willamette Valley include a top scoring range of elegant vineyard-expressive Pinot Noirs and a rich, energetic Chardonnay, her record of exceptional quality earning the portfolio a devoted cult following worldwide and available in limited quantities outside her exclusive winery list.
Establishing her winery in 2007 with her father Gus Stearns, Kelley Fox was mentored by David Lett of The Eyrie Vineyards before spending a decade as the winemaker at Scott Paul Wines, crafting her wines as a transparent expression of their vineyard origins with limited intervention in the winery and gaining access over her career to some of Oregon's top vineyards. Employing small lot fermentations with all native yeasts and aging in in used barrels, Eric Guido of Vinous describes Kelley’s 2022 Pinot Noirs as “lifted, finessed and ethereal yet still vibrantly fruit-focused and nearly spiritual in the way that seemingly only Pinot Noir can be,” while the white wines are “potent and rich yet driven by an energetic mineral core that adds remarkable depth.” Sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA, the entry level 92 pt. 2022 Kelly Fox Pinot Noir Mirabai offers “soft elegant fruit as well as a supple texture and fresh acidity” according to Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck, while the beautifully aromatic 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Liminal Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has “approachable, fine tannins, vibrant, mouthwatering, even acidity, and crystalline purity” and promises to evolve for over a decade. Vinous critic Eric Guido calls the rich and juicy 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir “a model of purity, silken to the core” with “unbelievable freshness,” while the fresh and zesty 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks Pinot Noir is “darkly alluring” with “silky textures and simulating acidity,” both built for a decade or more of enjoyment. Sourced from the Freedom Hill Vineyard and aged in stainless steel for six months, Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck calls the 93 pt. 2023 Kelley Fox Willamette Valley Chardonnay “hard to resist,” offering fresh, spiced fruit with “outstanding energy propelling it through the lovely, savory, mineral-noted finish” and declaring it “a tremendous value.”
Focusing on the clearest expression of a vineyard's character, Kelley Fox is a name for Oregon wine fans to add to their must try list, or as succinctly stated by Vinous critic Eric Guido, “Anyone looking for Oregon Pinot Noir purity and transparent communication of terroir from the soil to the vine to the bottle must explore Kelley Fox Wines.” |
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The 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley is more savory than sweet, with crushed almonds and yellow florals accentuating green apples. This is sweetly spiced with silken textures and ripe orchard fruits, all offset by a tinge of saline minerals and sour citrus. Depths of lemony concentration linger as this finishes with tremendous length. The 2023 is just a baby today and seems to evolve further with each tilt of the glass. This is fabulous.
93+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Aug 2024)
Pouring a medium yellow/golden hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley comes from younger vines within the Freedom Hill Vineyard and is floral and expressive with aromas of quince, grapefruit, a hint of sweet spice, and delicate toast. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate and has a mouthwatering feel, a silky, rounded midpalate, and outstanding energy propelling it through the lovely, savory, mineral-noted finish. It’s hard to resist now and offers tremendous value. Drink 2024-2032.
93 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
The 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley comes from young vines at Freedom Hill Vineyard. Fermented and matured in stainless steel, it has exuberant aromas of guava and peach accented by wafts of jasmine, spice and honey. The medium-bodied palate is powerful yet weightless, its highly concentrated flavors foiled by vertical acidity, and it has a long, flavor-packed finish. 623 cases produced.
92 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Dec 2024)
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