Kelly Fox Wines, Dundee Hills & McMinnville 

Kelley Fox Wines is a small family winery run by just two people, Kelley Fox (winemaker) and her brother, Gerson Stearns (general manager).  The first vintage was 2007, starting with just over 100 cases. The annual case production is now just shy of 2000 cases, all from the historic Maresh Vineyard and the Demeter-certified biodynamic Momtazi Vineyard.

The wines are made to reflect the land, the vines, the fruit of the vines, the year, and everything else unknown and unseen that comes with those things. That said, the wines are not really "made" at all.  As the winemaker, Kelley Fox has no end result in mind each year for the what the wines will be. What she is doing is responding to the essence of the fruit from each block, which she hopes is carrying the essence of the earth that bore it, along with the details of the year (the weather, the stars and the planets).

Kelley graduated Magna Cum Laude with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University and was admitted to the PhD program in Biochemistry and writes that “Before completing the doctorate, I changed my path to pursue winemaking.

Metaphorically, this year’s Durant is more like a Puligny than the rich 2021. This Chardonnay tastes and drinks as 100% Oregon.

The 2022 is pale pastel yellow with shining pale golden tones and is brilliantly transparent. The nose begins with powdery minerals, delicate tropical fruits, and creamy citrus. These aromas are repeated in the mouth that has beautiful texture and a lasting finish. When we racked it towards the end of harvest, the overhead doors open, a friend walked into the building asking what in the world smelled this good. There is something heavenly about this one.

Grape: Chardonnay

Biodynamic