I had my first taste of Kelley Fox wines on a recent trip to Oregon, at a charming little osteria in Newberg. Our server recommended it. It was love at first sniff and sip, and I totally get why her wines are the talk of the town.
If you know me, you know I'm a Pinot Noir head, and this one really rang my bell. When I got back to North Carolina, I immediately checked to see if it was available and was thrilled to find that one of our distributors had recently picked it up.
I bought my distributor's last 84 bottles, and I'm offering it for $34.99 per bottle, with no further discounts. These wines are brand new to North Carolina, so if you're interested, don't wait too long on this one.
Kelley Fox cut her winemaking teeth with David Lett at Eyrie Vineyards. What a teacher! Lett planted the first Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley, and Eyrie remains one of the region's benchmark producers. Kelley has forged her own style, making about 3,000 cases a year of pure, mineral-driven wines. She ferments with native yeasts and whole clusters, and uses no new oak. In her words, she wants her wines to be "as pure and unadorned as possible."
The 2024 Mirabai is a beautiful example of that philosophy. Lithe, mineral-driven, and remarkably pure, it has the kind of perfume and finesse that makes great Willamette Valley Pinot Noir so compelling. One little heads-up when you open the bottle: it can be a bit reductive at first. In plain English, it may smell slightly funky. Don't worry about it. Just give it 5-10 minutes in the glass, give it a few swirls, and watch the wine come out of its shell.
Audrey Frick, who covers Oregon for Jeb Dunnuck, has one helluva palate. She rated this 95 points, and her tasting notes are spot-on:
"Pouring a jeweled ruby color, it is pure and inviting, with notes of wild raspberry, pomegranate, pressed roses, and orange peel. Medium-bodied, it has lovely finesse, silky length, dark mineral undertones, and an exceptional perfume. The 2024s are simply stunning aromatically. This is far more than a basic entry-level wine and will only improve with another 6-12 months in bottle. Drink over the coming 15 years."
Simply stunning aromatically. That really sums it up. This is one of those Pinot Noirs that grabs you from the first sniff and doesn't let go. If you love Oregon Pinot, I think you're going to love this one.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville