Kelley Fox’s 2024 Willamette Valley Gruner
Kelley Fox has built a reputation for crafting some of the most thoughtful, transparent wines in Oregon, and this Grüner Veltliner is a perfect expression of her philosophy. Known primarily for Pinot Noir, Kelley brings that same sensitivity and restraint to this Austrian variety, allowing the vineyard and vintage to shine without excess weight or manipulation.
The fruit here is sourced from a small collection of thoughtfully chosen sites: Abbey Road Farm, alongside Chehalem Mountain Vineyard and the Hotel Vineyard. Each site contributes its own nuance, and the picking decisions reflect a deliberate pursuit of balance and complexity. Abbey Road Farm was harvested on September 22, 2024, capturing brightness and energy, while Chehalem Mountain and Hotel Vineyard were picked later, on October 18, 2024, bringing additional depth and texture to the final blend. Keeping this a family affair the label artwork, as with most of Kelley’s wines, is created by her daughter Violet.
This delivers the hallmark Grüner profile of crisp green apple, citrus zest, and that signature white pepper note but through a distinctly Willamette Valley lens. There’s a freshness that keeps the wine energetic from start to finish. The texture is sleek yet quietly layered, offering more depth than you might expect at first glance. This isn’t as dense a wine as, say, a Smaragd Gruner from Austria, but a pretty, lively wine that refreshes.
The 2024 vintage leans into vibrancy and precision. The natural acidity is bright but not sharp, giving the wine both immediate drinkability and the structure to pair effortlessly with food. Production is extremely limited to just 346 cases in total underscoring the care and intention behind every bottle. These are not wines made to flood the market; they are crafted in small lots and tend to disappear quickly once people catch on.
Snap it up while you can. This is another white that will be great with the warmer weather that is (hopefully!) right around the corner.
92 Points, Vinous
The 2024 Grüner Veltliner mixes fresh lime zest with green melon, mint, and wild herbs to form its enticing bouquet. Oily textures are offset by a stimulating core of acidity and crisp orchard fruit as cascade of citrusy spice swirls throughout. Wickedly fresh, it leaves the palate stimulated and watering for more as a sour twang curls the tongue