Kelley Fox Wines - Stater Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2023
Price: $32.99
| Producer | Kelley Fox Wines |
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| Country | USA |
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| Region | Oregon |
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| Varietal | Pinot Blanc |
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| Vintage | 2023 |
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| Sku | 38999 |
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Kelley Fox Wines Description
There’s a new Dundee Hills farm for Kelley Fox Wines: Stater Vineyard. It borders the The Eyrie Vineyards’ original vines vineyard on one side and Durant Vineyard (higher up near Bishop Block) on the other. I lease the vines at this enchanting little vineyard encircled by a towering grove that has a Pacific northwest nod to Avalon (i.e. fairies, etc.) in its energy. Most of the vines are Pinot noir here, but there’s a half-acre or so of beautiful Pinot blanc. This Pinot blanc was whole cluster-pressed after picking. It settled in tank for a couple of days before racking and after primary, it was racked into a stainless tank for élevage until bottling. This wine is dry and ML-complete.
The colour is very pale, pastel yellow. It’s transparent and full of light. The nose is full of peach and melon notes with undertones of subtle, creamy tropical fruits. In a blind, I just might have mistaken it as a rosè from Provence by the nose. And if I hadn’t seen the colour. The Dundee Hills differentiates this Pinot blanc from the Freedom Hill Vineyard and the Barbie. Clearly, I love Pinot banc so much that there must be three! The texture is silky and bordering on lush but is perfectly balanced by the refreshing acidity and nice tension. The mouth has the same peaches and melons and creamy tropical notes as the nose, and the finish is long. I hope you enjoy this delicious wine as much as I do.
Appellation: Dundee Hills A.V.A.
Picking Date: 19 September 2023
Barrels: none this year
Bottling Date: 13 March 2024
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Cases Produced: 108
Jeb Dunnuck: 96 Points
"The 2023 Pinot Blanc Stater Vineyard is bright yellow and wonderfully generous, with ripe notes of white peaches, citrus blossoms, white strawberry, and lovely depth. It’s the most opulent of her Pinot Blancs, yet maintains freshness and a long, rounded finish."
Vinous: 93 Points
"The 2023 Pinot Blanc Stater Vineyard combines mint leaf, wet stones, nuances of citrusy spice and crushed green apples. Savory and sweet elements intertwine as an herbal thrust up front complicates depths of ripe nectarine and a hint of sweet spice. The finish is wickedly fresh, with medium length and a distinctly slaty sensation that slowly fades."
