Kelley Fox Mirabai is consistently one of Willamette Valley's greatest mid-range pinots. Utterly Burgundian, in the sense that they convey something deep, visceral and pulsing about the land that raised them. Utterly Niigata-like, in the sense that they are a pure, subtle, and perfectly balanced reflection of time and place. Nothing ostentatious, nothing to hide. WV Pinot Noir at its absolute best.
Kelley does all her own farming according to biodynamic standards on leased rows and plots within the Willamette Valley. Her long tenure here has earned her access to the very best vines of the valley.
This is one of only 3 Oregon winemakers I collect, year to year, because the quality is always outstanding.
My absolute favorite wine man, Dustin, who runs the business side of Kelley Fox, offers his notes here.
The Mirabai 2021 is a light-to-medium, youthful, cool-toned red with blue and deep pink undertones. It’s eye-catchingly brilliant in the glass and transparent. True to the 2021 vintage, the nose is deliciously heady, this one full of Hood strawberries (the best-scented of all, I think), soft minerality, and a hint of spices and tea. The mouth is the same and carried on the classic Dundee Hills silk and finishes long. The Mirabai 2021 is a beautiful, balanced joybringer. It has soaring energy and feels like birdsong.
Appellation: Dundee Hills A.V.A.
Picking Dates:
70% Weber Vineyard: 24 September 2021: 1983 self-rooted Pommard
30% Maresh Vineyard: 23 September 2021: 1978-1991 self-rooted Pommard
Barrels: neutral Burgundy barrels (228L) made from French forests
Bottling Dates: 27 May 2022
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Whole Cluster: about 30%
Cases Produced: 1300 cases