Kelley Fox Shafer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

97 points Jeb Dunnuck: " Bright and vibrant, with notes of orange zest, cranberry, bright roses, dusty earth, and terrific tension. Medium-bodied, it delivers mouthwatering acidity without ever becoming severe, alongside impressive salinity and elegance. Sourced from 1973 plantings in what Kelley calls a magical place, this is a wine Oregon wine pioneer David Lett would likely have appreciated. Drink over the coming 15 years." Kelley Fox: The Shafer 2024 is an eye-clear jewel-like, rich ruby red. The nose is filled with delicious and perfectly ripe Boysenberry, blueberry, and red raspberry character with soft minerals and subtle spices. There is something cool (like the air in our old growth rainforests), fresh, and inviting about this wine. The mouth is rich without being heavy, and it takes its time on the palate and long finish. I love the depth and intensity of the 2024, and this quiet, powerful wine has enchanted me. In the late 1990s, I lived at a breathtakingly beautiful vineyard in the Coast Range foothills called “Tualatin Vineyard”. All kinds of wild things live hidden in those forests. I remember visiting the nearby Shafer Vineyard (Miki and Harvey Shafer also ran a Christmas swag side hustle in addition to their vineyard and their winery, Shafer Vineyard Cellars.) and feeling like I was in some magical fairy place. When Ony Mora asked me whether I would make a small amount of wine from these self-rooted vines planted in 1973,-there was no hesitation. Ony and Jesus have been managing and personally caring for pristine vineyards with consistent excellence for at least three decades. They are my friends, and they have been an important part of my winery for years. 2023 vintage notes Only two barrels of this were made and you should race to get it. Why? It is awe-some. Bursting with flavor, deep, long, mouthwatering and mouth-coating, silky to the point of being nearly creamy. This one left us in awe and has been entered into our Pinot-of-the-vintage conversation.