TN: 2019 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard

Try this on for size:

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@lee_short is spot on!

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Then the Mirabai is not declassified single vineyard barrels. That makes sense from a quantity standpoint, but I swear she told me that they were back when she was in the Momtazi winery. :thinking: Never the less, killer juice.

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Back in the momtazi days… the Mirabai was just Maresh.
The Ahurani was just Momtazi vineyard’s blend.
Now it’s two vineyards and always just Dundee.

Yes, but back then it still could have been pressed wine or declassified barrels, right?

And now, what does she do with extra Eola Amity juice (Canary Hill and Carter, plus Freedom Hill)?

She’s been blending both (FR and PR) for those when needed.

I just remember about a week before our visit there was an instagram post and if I remember correctly it was Kelley driving a forklift literally making it dance to 80s headbanger rock. I knew right then that was gonna be a great visit lol

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There were sometimes I would see the lights off in the cellar, loud music and there would be dance parties with glow sticks. And it was only pinot in the glasses…
I would turn the other way

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That feeling when you realize Kelley Fox needs and deserves her own column, but you don’t know who to whack.

Only one? What is that? Two cases? :wink: Looks like you’ve been at it for awhile unless that is a library release.

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We had a 2016 Momtazi last night. This was the last vintage for this wine (she made a 2017 Montazi Tir block) and I loaded up when it was on sale at Vinopolis. It had the same expected quality as the Maresh, but less expression and finesse. My friend thought it was ready to go. I thought the sneeky tannins belied further development. If anything, I thought it was a little bit shut down. That lead to a discussion of when does aging a wine result in an actual improvement vs. when does it just result in a different expression of that wine that is not necessarily better. The answer to this one, especially with Kelley’s wines, is not always clear.

I know exactly what you mean with KF wines. I have had this debate – at least internally – on several occasions.

Funnily enough, I opened the 2017 Momtazi TIR for some friends last night. It is, like all of her wines in my opinion, excellent. It’s a loverly blend of Hood strawberries with hibiscus & black tea. There’s a hint of pine sap. It’s so good now and I don’t know that additional age will “improve” the wine.

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Just had the 2019 Star of Bethlehem with dinner. Not completely closed, but far from open for business. Hold.

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Thank you Lee, I was getting frisky to try one. Maybe I’ll go for a 16 instead.

Another note – I gave this about a 2 hour decant, and watched it over about 3 hours. Didn’t evolve much over that time.

As an interesting reference point, we had a 2013 Scott Paul Audrey last night, made when Kelley was the wine maker there. This is 100% 1970 planted Maresh fruit and named after Audrey Hepburn for it’s beauty and elegance. Quite an fitting name choice and the wine also had a certain timeless quality to it. It is still incredibly fresh and young at ten years and still has tannins to support years more aging. Will it get better? I’m not sure how it could from where it is now. So if you have any, drink now or hold for as long as you want. Screwcap.

And what is the story with the rabbit? Does @Dustin_Swenson happen to know?

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Do you feel this is aging under the screwcap, and if so at what pace compared to other 13s?

It is ageing, but probably slower. I know the plastic seal under the cap is designed to provide some oxygen flow.
I have had Scott Paul’s 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2013 that have all been great. The 2007 Biggio Haminas under screw top have also been really good. They don’t seem freakishly young, just really well preserved and fresh still. But some 2013 Goodfellow and PGC have recently also seemed quite young, so I am going to give more credit to the wine than the cap. That said, I personally have not experienced any downside to screw tops. Perhaps they are akin to using Diam 30.

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I have heard random reasons for the rabbit on the old Scott Paul labels but weirdly don’t believe a single one or know 100% why.
So let’s start the rumors now… here’s mine…

Scott loved his stuffed bunny as a kid, so he put it on the wine labels. The bunny’s name is Bumper, which is Thumpers little brother (of course).

What do you think the reason for the bunny is??? Pass it on…

The rabbit is a pagan symbol of fertility and plenty. Isn’t that reason enough?