March 29, 2021 - Popped-and-poured, this started out firm and slightly green, but improved significantly over the course of several hours on glass. Black fruit throughout, there was a slightly vegetal note for the initial 30-45 minutes that gradually softened, even if it never disappeared, while the fruit intensity (good from the start) kept getting better. Lots here, so I remain optimistic that the wine has enough stuffing to retain what’s interesting as the rough edges soften with more cellar time.
April 26, 2020 - Medium red colorwith a clear 3mm margin. Split bottle over 3+ hours. The nose shows iodine, underbrush, hints of ground coffee, dark cherry, a little vegetal. The palate shows the iodine, briar, mineral, dark cherry, and soil. There's still some firmness to the tannins and the vegetal edges hangs on the finish. Probably over the crest, but I'm not in that big of a hurry to drink my last one.
October 23, 2019 - Just scored some 04 Seven Springs at auction, so I celebrated with this bottle. Showing so well, there’s a gorgeous core of dark cherry fruit here. Hard to resist the next sip. Great New World fruit, but well balanced with plenty of brightness and a tinge of herbal nuance keeping things button-downed. A touch of bitterness on the backend. The finish is all pinot noir, varietally speaking, reminding me of Burgundy. The only thing lacking is much complexity, but maybe these can improve still?
August 19, 2018 - Slightly muted nose, but soft and balanced on palate, with good pinot flavors, alcohol in balance, fruit fading a bit revealing subtle earth tones. A bit non0descript but lovely mouthfeel. 13.5%. Sally's. 90-91
March 17, 2018 - Starts off a litttle funky and garish, almost showing like a southern Rhone or even Zinfandel. Some air settles this down and we have a nice, sappy, spicy Pinot in its zone of drinkability. Good depth, brightness and fruit. A riper expression to be sure, but quite tasty.
September 17, 2017 - Past peak
February 15, 2017 - This got a little lost for me for the first night with all the other wines and the rich food... But on day 2, wow this came on strong. There's some spiciness, but this is mostly about restrained, cool cherry fruit with bright acids. Really good, balanced. I think this still needs a 5+ years to really shine.
February 12, 2017 - Very nice wine, likely in the middle of its preferred plateau. The color is holding fast - dark garnet, no tawny. Aromas are bright, almost piercing at first, with loads of cranberry, cinnamon stick, black cherry, soil and dried leaves. The palate, as with the nose, has its forceful, yet restrained style, from the first sip to the last; medium-bodied, med>high acidity, medium>medium+ finish By the second glass, loads of floral and berry complexity, very much in the Shea signature. Very well made, red fruited, and just another data point that 10 yrs on, I vastly prefer well-made 07s vs the 06s that the critics slobbered all over. 13,5% abv., thru 2021. recommended
Served non-blind; PnP, iirc.
August 21, 2016 - Continues to drink very well with earth and herbs, in a nice window.
January 31, 2016 - Shea Pinot Provided by and at Gary's: A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. Initially, lots of rosewater on the nose that fades until you can barely pick it up anymore. Perfumed, lovely, lively, really snappy fruit. I'm getting some earth but none of the funkyness I usually get with St. Innocent. This wine is just elegant and balanced.