Delivering The Finest Oregon Wines For More Than 25 Years! |
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Winemaker Jim Maresh
2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnays
Reach New Peak of Intensity, Quality
His 97-99 Point Chardonnays from 2019 are stunning.
These '21s are better
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2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
$68 / bottle
10% OFF Any 6 Bottles of Tan Fruit Chardonnay
15% OFF any 12 Bottles of Tan Fruit Chardonnay
This is an email-only offer. Please email me directly at pinotguy@oregonpinotnoir.com
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Last year winemaker Jim Maresh wowed the wine world with his stunningly complex Tan Fruit chardonnay bottlings. With scores up to 99 points, the wines were subject to instant and overwhelming demand.
But I have just finished tasting through tank samples of his 2021 chardonnays. These wines are intensely extracted, beautifully focused, and show a vibrancy and overall density of extract that meets and exceeds those '19s. These wines represent West Coast chardonnay at the very highest level. This lineup as a whole is better than his '19s for my palate. They are remarkable wines that must be tasted to be believed. If any one of these wines came from a well-known California producer (or a Burgundy producer) they would be priced at $100 - $300 per bottle. But the Tan Fruit price is fixed at a remarkable $68 per bottle for all of the bottlings.
Here is the winemaker's take on the vintage: "The 2021 is as great as a vintage gets. The weather was warm which advanced pick dates, then cooled down at the best time to send flavors ahead of sugars which is ideal. However, what makes 2021 really great is the low yields (more intense flavors). The 2021s remind me why Chardonnay is my favorite varietal."
These wines are available NOW on a pre-release basis, with delivery expected by the end of 2022. The wines will not be available in any out-of-state market until well after the final release date. I encourage all OPNC clients to consider taking advantage of this remarkable access to these stellar wines.
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Tan Fruit Chardonnay
Tan Fruit is a personal project for Maresh. He's made terrific chardonnay since the inception of the Arterberry Maresh label with the 2005 vintage, but he wanted to experiment with the most current techniques and processes, including the "black chardonnay" method we've chronicled here in the past.
The results were nothing short of extraordinary for New World Chardonnay, and for Oregon Chardonnay. Last year, his five bottlings from the 2019 vintage all scored 97-99 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Now, he's not the only producer to hit big with his 2019 chardonnays - Walter Scott, Domaine Drouhin, Bethel Heights, Antica Terra and others also received whopper scores. But for the consistent high scores across multiple bottlings, the reasonable pricing, and the fact the wines are actually available without having to wait for years on some list, the Tan Fruit is the top-dog chardonnay in Oregon in my humble opinion.
Plus the prices are exceptionally reasonable. Other Oregon chardonnays at this level can command up to $150 / bottle. The upshot is this: If you like Oregon chardonnay, GET THESE. If you've been on the sidelines regarding Oregon chardonnay so far, it is time to get in the game and to take advantage of our extraordinary access!
My notes are from final tank samples, while Jim's notes are in quotes. These wines will continue to evolve prior to bottling, and will age for years if desired. The wines will be bottled around November, and released before the end of the year. This is a pre-release sale. Payment for the wine is due now, and freight will be added at market rate when the wines are shipped. We are not responsible for final winery release date.
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2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
White Walnut Vineyard "Tank Fruit"
$68 / bottle
An intense nose of cool green fruits billows from the glass, and is echoed on the palate, with vibrant acids and loads of minerals that cascade towards an endless finish. Kaboom. My personal favorite of the lineup.
From the Winemaker: "From White Walnut, fermented in tank and finished in barrel. Green pear, salty lime, white melon."
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2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
White Walnut Vineyard
$68 / bottle
An exuberant tropical fruit nose sets the stage for an intense and mouth-coating texture that delivers non-stop waves of flavor. Remarkably complex even now. Unctuous texture.
Winemaker notes: "We had to edit the label to represent how this jumps from the glass (see the wavy lines!). White lily, asian pear, passion fruit, lychee."
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2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
Sophie's Vineyard
$68 / bottle
Palate-staining viscosity -- this is supple but has big extract with flavors of stone fruits and bitter pith, citrus oils, super long finish. Wow!
From the Winemaker: "From the northern part of the Umpqua Valley. Surrounded by timber land, Sophie's vineyard sits on a steep south slope in the Yoncalla Hills with a strong influence from the Pacific Ocean and near constant breeze."
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2021 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
Maresh Vineyard
$68 / bottle
This is from the old vines in Jim Maresh's home vineyard. It's demonstrative on the nose with kiwi, green apple and exotic citrus aromas that are mirrored on the palate. Vibrant, classy, layered and detailed, creamy texture, super-long.
From the winemaker: "Expressive out of the glass with fresh cut Cherimoya, white flowers, creme brulee."
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2019 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
Oak Grove Vineyard
$68 / bottle
This is showy and open right now, and has an amazing purity of fruit with a finish that is elegant and super long, with filigreed acids and a finish that keeps going and going.
From the Winemaker: "Ultra pure and fresh nose of tide pool and brine without any reduction, very pretty. Tightly wound lemon and lime but with round aqua edges. The most delicate of the 21 Tan Fruit."
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2019 Tan Fruit Chardonnay
Fairview Vineyard
$68 / bottle
Another wine with huge texture and extract, scintillating acidity, and a lengthy finish evoking green apples and pears and an unmistakable almond pastry note that I find in certain high-end Chablis.
From the Winemaker: "From the crush pad of the winery we have an excellent view of this site and it's easy to keep track of the fruit when it's a short walk away. White peach, almond pastry."
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3207 SW 1st Ave.
Portland, OR 97239
1-800-847-4474
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