Kelley Fox – Willamette Valley

Kelley Fox started producing wines from 2 excellent vineyards in the Willamette Valley in 2007. She now produces around 2000 cases per year of fantastic, biodynamic, terroir-expressive Pinot Noirs which are the best I have tasted from Oregon. Her wines are bottles under 3 labels:

  • Mirabai Pinot Noir – this is her “basic” Pinot
  • Maresh Pinot Noir – from a single vineyard of the same name
  • Momtazi Pinot Noir – from a single vineyard of the same name

Kelley grows and vinifies all her wines personally, carefully attending to every aspect of the production process from bud to bottle. Her approach is as natural as possible, for example she uses only natural yeast for fermentation, only the free run juice from the first press, and no filtration.

Pinot Noirs such as these are a serious and fascinating alternative to red Burgundy; a little riper and warmer in fruit but with vibrant minerality and freshness.