Given my sins, 437 years is a rounding error.
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Only if it’s Faiveley
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This evening, the 2019 Durant Lark Block Chardonnay.
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Thanks for checking in, it was super muted when I opened a bottle last year. I’m trying to hold off til 2029 but that’s a tough ask…
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2015 Maresh Vineyard, Red Barn Blocks
Mushroom, forest floor, red berries and the slightest hint of cooked fruit on the nose showing the hot vintage. With an hour of air this integrates as the nose becomes more mineral driven and the palate unloads layers of bright red cherries framed by beautiful acidity. A masterful rendition of the 2015 vintage that is in a perfect place. No rush on this, but in the sweet spot for my palate.
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- 2019 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Blanc Barbie Freedom Hill Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/22/2025)
Two years since my last bottle and I was somewhat surprised at how fresh and vibrant this showed on Easter dinner. Perhaps that extra richness in the Barbie bottling might translate better to mid term aging vs. the FH PB. Rich orchid fruits and a gentle touch of ginger and a sliver of fresh herbs. I think my last bottle I’ll hold a couple more years and see where it lands.
Posted from CellarTracker
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One of my absolute favorite wines from the vintage. Along with the PGC Windridge and Wadensville bottlings.
Dynamite stuff!
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- 2022 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (4/26/2025)
Decanted 3 hrs. Thanks to the generous BD offer for this wine, I was able to buy a bunch and pull the trigger for an early look. This feels a little tight and compact, aggressive swirling yields some good stuff on the nose. Similar on the palate as of today at least, a little subdued. I’m getting the fruit on the back end - a nice Ocean Spray cranberry quality that is very fresh and clean. On the front end, a pronounced iron note dominates with a touch or two of wood, a little cola maybe. Good wine today, better wine tomorrow.
Posted from CellarTracker
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2022 Canary Hill PN. This is my first KF wine after purchasing a mixed case at the too good BD16 price.
Coravined a smallish glass last night and again tonight. Both nights the wine was wide open for about an hour and then slammed tightly shut on the nose and palate. When I open the remainder of this bottle for real I need to remember to open a day in advance.
In the window the wine was open it was seriously impressive. The nose is perfumed and lifted, leaping out of the glass with tightly focused red fruit — raspberry, barely ripe sour cherry, CRANBERRY in flashing letters, roses, hibiscus tea, black tea, and spice. The palate is light, transparent, and mouthwatering with strong acidity and minimal perceived alcohol. Chalky tannins that are medium minus intensity. The flavors largely follow through from the nose, at this moment the main fruit impression on the palate is cranberry with a strong hibiscus tea vibe to the nonfruit elements. At this juncture I do not get much in the earthy/leafy spectrum but suspect that will come with time.
After the hour or so of cheerful openness ends the wine is brooding and coiled. Years in bottle will help this along, glad to have 3 more!
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• 2023 Albariño
A delightful bottle. Light spritz. Lemon lime, florals, a salty granite minerality. Just the thing for a warm spring evening. Good fun.
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Hi Chris-it’s been far too long since I’ve been able to be here. What a year! A little note: the Freedom Hill Pinot blanc in most vintages aged in neutral French oak barrels (228L). I often enjoy having folks try the Barbie (neutral Acacia) against the Freedom Hill (neutral oak) since the fruit came from the same block of PB at Freedom Hill, and often, the same fermentor. The difference is the trees. I would argue that it’s the tree energy/essence that is different. But hey-I’m REALLY into trees. 
- 2023 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Mirabai - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (5/11/2025)
Needs 2h of air but this is delicious.
Nose of red florals, raspberry, subtle soil. Palate is brimming with bright cherry and strawberry with a hint of herbal tinge. Finish shows crisp red berries, sweet fine grained tannins, refreshing minerality and acidity.
This wine is a mix of vineyards and blocks that are entirely own-rooted. IMO pretty significant. Obviously this is young and primary now, but should age well for another 5-7 years.
91+ (91 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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I loved reading your words, John: yes, these wines are devoted to Oregon. I want people to feel/experience Oregon when they drink them. Our volcanoes, temperate rainforests, the Pacific Ocean, and of course, the lush Willamette Valley, and all of the life of this beautiful place are hopefully in the energy of my wines. I hope you don’t have 437 more years in purgatory for opening this wine during Lent!
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Thanks for the reminder Kelley. I should have remembered about the FB PB being in neutral wood. 
• 2017 Red Barn Blocks Maresh Vineyard PN
Holy smokes this was the absolute bomb. From CT notes:
Absolutely stunning bouquet of cherries, violets, loam, and cut flowers. Some of the most intense bing cherry flavors I’ve ever experienced in a wine. Spectacular by any measure. After about 60-90 minutes of air the berry pyrotechnics subside and are replaced by a burnt stalk / earth edge to the (now) more sour cherries.
Will it get better than this? I don’t know and since this was my last bottle of this I’ll never know. I am saving some 2019 Red Block for that experiment since I believe fwiw that although the 2017 has more upfront charm, in the fullness of time the 2019 will be even greater. Wow.
Score: 95. Relative to expectations: +++
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Well that is some exciting news! For myself, I bought six bottles directly from a tasting with Kelley, having also had my mind blown away by them, right after she moved to the new location in Gaston. I have yet to open one! However, if I am not mistaken, I thought 2018 was the last vintage for Red Barn Block?
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Sad I missed 2017 KF, 18 was the first vintage I bought into.
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The 2017s are magic. As great as they are, you’re in luck because I think — with time - the 2019s are even better.
Yeah I gotta go check. Maybe it’s other 2019 cuvées I’m thinking of. My inventory management team is made up of squirrels 
I am probably confusing Red Barn amd Royal Ann. My command of OR wine geography is inferior to my knowledge of central Asian ski zones, ie I’d love to know but it’s the square root of Fanny Adams.
Regardless , I don’t know what vintage will recapture the sheer exuberance of 2017. Maybe none. However, 2019 and 2021 will in my view have a depth and complexity the 2017s can only dream of. My experience of 2018s is that they are very solid, but overshadowed in youth by 2017. I have no idea what 2018 will do in the fullness of time
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