Nose is fresh with a savory / umami character to is. Also light red fruits, some dark spices, chicken stock. Palate has a lot of energy, sappy fruit (which is not showing to be primarily red, black or blue, feels like a true medley), showing some secondary character; soy, dark anise, cocoa. Very fine texture. Excellent!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As the old saying goes, there are no great wines, instead fantastic bottles. This humble wine was exceptional at 12 - fruit very much singing and remarkable balance and length. Everything working in tandem. Simply fantastic juice and hope my few remaining bottles can match the performance of this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruity and generous with acid minus that gives the wine a past peak impression. Tad hot. Drinkable but not sure if it has the stuffing to evolve any more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grabbed from the cellar last nite and PNP. Interesting pinot. Fairly intense nose of wild flowers, violets and black cherries. I've had this wine awhile back but I see it differently today. Bigger, more lush and spicy, and hotter than I recall. There's a sense of foresty earthiness here, combined with some fairly ripe fruit--black cherries--and Asian spices. The wine is rich and lush--particularly so for a PN, but it has a sense of elegance as well. I like the wine but it's not my style of PN, and is a bit hot. Still, I did last nite and continue to enjoy it today. Also, this wine is far from over the hill. I believe it's currently hitting its stride, and is a quality wine--particularly if you prefer this style of PN.
The CT drinking window for this wine closed in 2017. I found a bottle in the dark recesses of my storage and decided I should wait no longer. After 30 min in the glass it was delicious. Soft and rounded flavors. A testament to the quality Shea Wine Cellars produces.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus intensity, dark fruit - bramble and black cherry, dark floral notes - violets, and Asian spice. Palate: Medium bodied, earthy cherry and spice attack, great mouth-feel and balance, nice spice driven lift thru the mid-palate, subtle earthy notes appear in the back-end and balance out wonderfully with the up front fruit. Finish: Lengthy, but subtle notes of red fruit, spice, and earthiness. This is drinking fantastic now and will likely hold on for 3+ years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious PN in its prime. Went very well with a spaghetti dinner. Opened in 30 minutes. Light flavor, good fruit, balanced, dark in color. At 12 years, I think this one is ready to drink. Reading some earlier comments makes me wonder if we had the same wine. Could it all be accounted for by bottle variation?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2008 was a stellar vintage; I thought this would be a benchmark wine and have kept these wines in my cellar now for 12 years. Upon opening, the nose was of tar and over-ripe plum. Fruit was pleasing with low acidity and tannin. Finish was quick and non-distinctive. After a two hour decant, the obnoxious nose dissipated with a soft bouquet, but not distinctive. Same fruit as first opened and a finish with no distinction. This is why I rated it a 88. Willamette Valley producers are doing a lot better especially with the 2014, 2015 & 2016 vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful pinot! I love Shea Wine Cellars ability to capture the dark fruit flavors of pinot. Make no mistake, this is no French Pinot Noir! This is a bold, yet fresh tasting pinot with lots of dark fruit flavors and a nose of dark red fruits. Medium bodied with plenty of life left, but I say - WHY NOT? Drink it now!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exotic and floral nose of candle smoke, pepper, wild flowers and black cherries.
Interesting wine on the palate. If i saw this blind i would call it as a New California style Syrah. The type that is now grown in super marginal Syrah growing areas like the Sonoma Coast or Mendocino.
In that context, this is mid-weight, dry but with sweet fruit, black cherries and raspberries, iodine and a touch of soil.
Slightly difficult to rate, as it's nor particularly varietal to me. Nonetheless if this said Syrah on the label i would like the style and give it maybe a 91. So i'll stick to that (88 as a Pinot for me).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second Sunday Group: 2008 Oregon Pinot: Blind. Rather reticent and tight- subtle notes of cherry and spice. Medium tannin. Develops a nice floral element to the bouquet that I enjoy quite a bit. Has a good bit of tannin to shed yet.
My #4, Domino's #6 Group #2, 41 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Compared to others' recent tasting notes, this was just OK for me. Lost my notes, but recall this was a richer style that perhaps has softened with age, but less interesting and/or less to my taste than similarly priced WV Pinot noir. 89-90. (Bottles I'd prefer: 2009 Brittan Vineyards Basalt Block, 2011 Big Table Farm Sunnyside)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great bottle of wine, this one won a 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting that we hosted back in 2012. It has only gotten better. Sadly, my last bottle, but it was great to enjoy this with my father.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Color showing signs of age. Smells fresh and warmly spiced with some clove, and notes of delicious leather. Fruit profile is very dark, dark cherry and black plum. Late palate has some toffee, almond and coffee. Tannin well integrated. Well developed bottle showing good secondary and tertiary characteristics and drinking nicely. I have one more bottle and won't wait too long to drink it, definitely in the next year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wife and I enjoyed drinking this bottle very much. Opened and aired it for a good hour and a half before pouring a proper glass. Fairly deep color in the glass. Initially it tasted a bit flat, but eventually the fruit did come through. The nose also took a bit of time to become pronounced. Not fragrant to my nose, but almost hot. A fairly big and thick wine and still drinking well after four hours. The finish is long enjoyable. I still have a few more bottles left and I'll probably hold on to those a little longer before having another.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is pretty thick for a pinot. There is lots of dark fruit and a fair bit of minerality. Medium length finish. Nice, but not really pinot-ish I thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened the bottle two hours before drinking. Drank over four hours to see if there was any evolution. Not much. Very enjoyable, fruity, medium-full bodied. Third of four bottles and while they have all been good, it's not going to improve from here. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% abv. Medium garnet color; nearly opaque. The wine is quite fragrant with heady cherry and floral notes. Cherry fruit and herbs on the palate. It is well integrated and may be peaking. The finish is lengthy. A pleasure to drink. It is versatile. I could see it with roast chicken, Cornish hen, other fowl or pork (possibly salmon also.) I regret that I didn't buy additional bottles on sale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1 hr slow o to start. Zalto Burgundy glass. Really nice color in the glass, not quite to bricking, but the slight darkening and fading that precedes it. Fairly concentrated aromas, smells like WV. Hard cherries, soft raspberries, even a mildly floral cherry blossom scent, with just a touch of rich and loamy earth. Smooth and supple in the mouth, it is racy and acidic up front with a smooth segue to some largely resolved, medium fine tannins. While it is easy to drink, there is still quite a sense of concentration. Not as laid back and open as I'd like, it is still holding on tightly. Juicy dried cherries (if that's not too much of an oxymoron), cola, and some radish greens come across on the palate. Pleasant, but too young and tight for my preference. This is a hold for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unfortunately my last bottle. These are still going strong. Big nose as soon as it was opened. The fruit has faded a bit with secondary characteristics taking a bigger role. Bigger tannins than I expect for a Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the "Earth" tasting, library selections. Have been a big fan of Shea Wine Cellars over the years, fun to taste this vintage.
Medium/dark ruby color. Expressive nose of red raspberry, baking spice and floral notes. Palate of cherry, cola, red licorice, mocha(?), some spice. Medium bodied wine, nice texture, medium finish. Aging nicely and may be entering its prime at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice PN from Oregon. Still one of my favorites. Not too heavy, not too light. Well balanced. Great on it's own or with food. This one is in a great place right now. Dark ruby in color, no bricking yet. A lovely nose of cherry and roses. Palate is dark cherry, raspberry, a bit spicy, and a little smokey. Long finish. Continually improved as the night went on. 91-93 points.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just grabbed from my cellar and drank with the Whites last nite at FGR in Byram. Pretty cherry/ruby in color. Cherries and strawberries on the nose. Light to medium bodied, not particularly tannic, good amount of red fruit, delicate & soft with nice length. I haven't had much experience with the 08s but I didn't find this to be particularly big or lush at all. Indeed, it was much more on the elegant, soft side. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really pleasant experience with this new world pinot. In a very good place right now. Certainly "modern" being lush and fruit forward. Really well made. Wife even commented on it as to how good it was- a rare admission. Paired with salmon and basil cream pasta with asparagus. Delicious on its own and with the meal. Wish I had more.
No notes and I drank it a couple of days ago, but it has filled out nicely over the past few years. Typical Shea - big, lush and rich - at least by Oregon pinot standards. Dark fruits with a full body, great balance and a creamy, smooth texture. Adds some complexity and depth after about 30 -60 minutes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shea Pinot Provided by and at Gary's: A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about 30 minutes. Frankly, this was a dissapointment. Soapy rosey perfumed licorice nose. The palate is more like a cherry liqueur. Really hot. Maybe an off bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasting (Gary's Place): This bottle was not right. I suspect heat damage, it had some anise, oak, and earth on the nose, but the palate was oak, alcohol, and largely devoid of fruit, what was there seemed baked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Funky upon opening. Have yet to be impressed with the 2008 vintage. Tannic initially, these wines continue to show very little fruit and even less PN character. Tannic and emotionless. Bottle variation, bad cork?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A clear ruby color. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, some strawberry, anise, earth, spice and cigar box. The fruit is not as intense as my prior tastings of the wine. The tannins are mostly resolved. A lot lighter bodied now compared to prior tastings, but still and elegant wine. A long finish on the back palate that turns both mild and soft after 10 seconds.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with cod and shrimp with fennel (Anne Burrell's recipe). Despite the presence of chardonnay and anisette in the seafood stock, this pinot noir was a perfect match with complementary flavors and aromas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wasn't what I expected. It was silky and plush with lush, rich, jammy black fruits, and strawberry and cherry compote. There was little of the earthiness and terroir I expect from Willamette, and I felt it was lacking structure and backbone. This tasted more like a warmer climate pinot than Oregon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A medium bodied, tasty red. Pretty purple color, nose is more spicy than I remembered, with red raspberry fruit and just a hint of the sasparilla it showed when young. Coats the palate with a lively, mineral-driven finish. Very nice balance. I doubt that this wine will improve hugely with more age and would drink it during the next 3-5 years, but to me it represents quite a good value (I paid $38) and is certainly drinking very well right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
very bright fruit - more californian to me than oregon/burgundian -- a bit one dimensional. very pleasant but not outstanding. solid above average but not memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rickspicks nailed it. I'd give it 89 as it's drinking now, but if this comes together over a couple years this could become very nice. I'd give it 2-3 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No notes. Not a lot of nose, but what is there is very nice - cherry earth and spice. Rich, ripe and juicy with nice depth and concentration. Much bigger than a typical Oregon pinot (although Shea is typically bigger than most, so not surprising). A lot of astringency on the finish - which diminished with time, but never completely disappeared. Overall had a lot to like, but seemed disjointed and out of balance. I expected more from this vineyard/winery/vintage. Will not score and think either that I had a poor bottle, or that it needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. This is a cherry-red wine. On the nose, there is cherry, rose hips, and a hint of alcohol. In the mouth, there is some sweetness, cola, and some spicy cinnamon. Overall, this is okay but not great; it runs a bit hot. 90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 8th time I've tasted this wine. Much the same as my notes from 6/9/3013 and prior. A nice wine to enjoy while watching the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies at Sochi.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and pouredVery dark color, hot nose with underlying fruit, when opened also hot on the palate with fruit increasing as it sat in the glass and opened up. This wine needs time to open up, either let it sit a few more years or decant. I left it in the bottle without gas and will try it tomorrow and update this note
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Again, brick red, but showing some stronger fruit on this bottle. Rasberries for sure. This is not California fruit bomb, but the fruit isn't hidden behind secondary characteristics either. A nice expression of what Oregon can do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This never opened up for me. Dick Shea is the Oracle of Pinot so I am going to sit on my remaining 2 bottles for another few years. I have faith these will come around. Beautiful silky wine that just wouldn't budge.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over 3 days. Day 1 was very closed. Not a lot of fruit. Was kind of disappointed to be honest given the reputation of the 2008 vintage. 88 points. Day 2 really opened up. fruit on both the nose and the palate shined through. Delicate, nuanced, very feminine wine. 90 points. Day 3, similar to day 2 but just not quite as good. 89 points. Basically a dead ringer for Burgundy, this is going to need plenty of time to come around. Won't touch anymore of my 08's for at least another 3-5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2008 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasting (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Dark red color. Decanted for 2.5hrs. Nose is cherry, florals, cedar, dusty. Palate is dusty, underbrush, tart cherry, very spicy, oak, some heat at the times. Needs food, not one you can just sit and sip on its own. A bottle of '08 Block 5 was nothing at all like this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine is drinking well now. Took about 30 mins to open up. Nice, light Pinot, with more red fruits than classic blackberry. Would pair this with a light meal or salmon. The pasta dish we had with this was almost too heavy for this wine. Still a lovely Pinot that is well balanced and still has some time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color, medium bodied. Black cherry and earth, and savory. Silky tannins, and well balanced. Not a long finish. Easy to drink, but not fascinating
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color; slight yellowing on rim. More intense and robust from my first tastings, prior to April '13. Almost identical to the last tasting. "Aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, touches of strawberry, earth, forest floor, cigar box and spice. ... The tannins are velvety and nicely balanced into the wine. Along with the richness and fruit concentration, it is now more full bodied. Nice structure and balance. A long soft and velvety finish." Score 92+. Bought a case, so I have a few more left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine has opened up more and intensified, with more richness and concentration of fruit in the mouth. It still has aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, touches of strawberry, earth, forest floor, cigar box and spice. I did not get mint this time. The tannins are velvety and nicely balanced into the wine. Along with the richness and fruit concentration, it is now more full bodied. Nice structure and balance. A long soft and velvety finish. Today was the best rendition of the wine so far. 92+ score.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Of all the Shea's I've had, this was the most dissapointing. Descent nose, but watery mouthfeel, and not a great finish. It had all of the components of an Oregon Pinot, but weak and not much going on. I hope the '09 and '10's I have in the cellar are better. Kind of sad if other vinifyers make better wine out of your own grapes, right?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As expected, a good bit earthier and less fruity than Cali pinots. P&P through aerator, and still needed a good 15 or so mins in the glass, and benefitted from even more. WS window says drink by 2016. Enjoyable now but I wish I had had waited another year or so, when the tannins have integrated a tad more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my second of two bottles and both were unremarkable. Almost watery taste, no particular tannins or acid. Very disappointing, especially given the price.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hopefully I had an off bottle. Nothing really going on here. Nose was muted and palate was flat. Not what I expected from this producer and a Pinot of 14.2% alcohol. It was drinkable, just not good at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A medium ruby color; still purple on the rim. Complex aromas of black cherry, raspberry, earth, cigar box, spice and some mint. In the mouth I still get a slight acidic sting on the tongue from the tannin. Rich and a decent concentration of fruit. Great acid and balance. A long spicy and relatively smooth finish. Pretty good with left over turkey.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Uncorked, poured in glass for one hour and enjoyed over the next two hours. Fruit forward Pinot with nice acidity. Alcohol content feels high on the palate. Good wine but feel like there is much more that will evolve as it ages. Perhaps my expectations of the 08 Oregon pinots has been too high as I open every bottle with excitement. Will lay the other ones down for a while longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
a wonderful year for oregon pinot lovers;this was tight at first but opened up after 45 min.;more fruit than earth on the palate but nobody was complaining
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A medium reddish-ruby color this time. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, earth, cigar box, spices, a touch of mint. The wine seems to have slightly regressed, as it is not quite as velvety in the mouth as my last descriptive eleven months ago. I get a very slight acidic sting on the tongue (which disappeared with food). Rich and has a nice concentration of fruit. Great acid. A medium to long spicy finish. Paired extremely well with smoked salmon. The best parts of the wine are the nose and the pairing with smoked salmon. It seemed to be more appreciable with the food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Even though we opened 2 hours before tasting, it started pretty lightly, but once in the glass it seriously got better and opened up. Subtle, with several layers. After an hour some nice moist tobacco nose, with a little bit of maple and custard. Good mouth feel, medium fruit of blueberry. Overall a nice subtle Pinot, that is very enjoyable. Give it time in the glass, and enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Splash decanted; draft over 4 hours. After a couple of hours, the color was brick red, not the light purple I expect for my pinot. It was defintetly no fruit bomb, with more secondary characteristics than California style fruit. A big pinot, but balanced. Shea does great work again. A little unique for Oregon, but defintetly a strong showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Floral and initially quite herbal. Not as rich and fruity as the 2009 but perhaps more elegant in an understated way. Needed 1-2 hours decanting. A very nice wine that paired perfectly with roast chicken and rosemary roasted potatoes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perhaps drinkers should hold onto this bottle for some years - maybe 5. Didn't start opening up until mid-bottle to reveal aromas of truffles, mushrooms and damp forest floor - kinda reminds me of a Gevrey - although the nose wasn't as powerful as I was expecting. The palate also was interesting but a bit unbalanced- savory and fairly complex with measurable bitter tannins but lacked the acidity which would add some much needed vibrancy. Overall good Pinot but the QPR just isnt here - I've had way better Pinot at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color (must have transformed over the last 7 months, as I previously called it dark, dark garnet!). Does not seem quite as tight, as my last review on 3-5-11. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, earth, forest floor, spice, a hint of toffee; oak nicely integrated into the wine. There was some mint in the beginning, but it blew off. A smooth, velvety texture in the mouth. A nice soft finish that seemed to linger a little longer than my last review. Glad I bought some more! Score 92-93.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd place in 8 person blind tasting of Willamette Vly pinots between '09 Soter Mineral Springs, '08 Shea Estate, '08 Dominio IV Poetry and Roses, '08 Colene Clemens Reserve, '09 St Innocent Temperance Hill, and '10 Ayres Vineyard Perspective Ribbon Ridge. Personaly, this was my favorite of the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Made in the silky smooth elegant style as is the custom for Shea, this dark ruby beauty does not disappoint. Both spicy and elegant with cherry, light tea, cranberry and raspberry seemlessly presented. Should age well and be pleasurable for at least 5-7 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was the unanimous favorite at a 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting in July. Picked up a bottle the following week. Sorry to say that this time it didn't equal its performance from last month. The silky tannins were still there, which were lovely, but it lacked the complexity and structure of a fine Pinot Noir.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had a few Shea wines before and have liked them (if not loved them) but I have to say...this was not good. Over ripe cherries on the nose with some chocolate/oak. Big and lush on the palate, overly so. Medium length finish with no acidity to speak of. Felt like a badly made overdone CALI PInot, let alone an Oregon one. Oy....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have mixed feelings about this wine. It showed bright red fruit of Cherry and raspberry, and it was very delicate. My problem is that this just isn't a complex wine. While it was definitely an easy drinker, it lacked anything other than fruit on the nose and mid palate, and the finish left a lot to be desired.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is really great. A lot of earthiness on both the nose and palate. Dark cherry, slightly bitter, earthiness, some spiciness, and a little smoke. Long finish. On the long finish, just a hint of heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this 2008 earlier than I normally would to decide whether to buy more. Purple rim; dark, dark garnet body color. Black cherry, blackberry, earthy, forest floor, just a tad of mint; nice oak integrated into the wine. Concentrated fruit and good mouth feel. Decent finish - 15+ seconds. Tannins are soft and I'm believing the wine is still a bit closed. Should see some future wine transformation and possibly a better score. Probably will buy some more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On day 1, pop and pour: Very well balanced and smooth, but not as full-flavored as I prefer. 90 points. On day 2: Still nicely balanced, but rather bland and disappointing. 85 points. If you like a well-balanced wine that's fairly mild, then this is the wine for you. I went with an 89 overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color with a strong dark red fruit nose and a hint of pinot air. Decanted 60 minutes. Big, ripe, magnificent black cherry with hints of sweet red cherry, cola and spice. Flavors enlarged and softened over the next 60 minutes in the glass. Full, rounded, rich mouthfeel, balanced (despite the 14.2% alcohol) silky and elegant. Modest tannins and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This pinot was seamless. Dark ruby in color, the wine featured black raspberry, black cherry, spice and a slight hint of vanilla oak. Pleasant stem notes made an appearance too as the wine lingered in the glass. The body was silky, and the finish was enjoyable. This one was a complete wine with all of its components perfectly balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm having a rollercoaster with this wine, all in the last 9 months. First bottle was decent, 2nd bottle (in the summer) was much better. The third one just didn't have it - struggled to open up and show its flavors. Not bad at all, just a bit disappointed after the previous one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One More Time: This wine had great candied cherry flavors. I didn't enjoy the 07 Shea wines that I tasted, but 08 was obviously much kinder to the vineyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
light red fruit on the nose (raspberry). nice acidity on the palate. very approachable upon opening, no need for a decant. this is a nice wine to buy if you want to consume immediately.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This begins by a showing wonderful, expressive aromatics that focus on red cherry, floral and spice notes. Some subtle earth and oak tones make an appearance with airing. The color is a youthful medium ruby. The medium bodied palate shows excellent balance and length. The tannins make an appearance on the finish and balance youthful forward fruit. This should benefit from a year or two of bottle age to develop additional nuance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yamhill Carlton Tasting Event (The Armory, Portland Oregon): Dark cherries with thick skins appear on the nose, along with soft, dark earth. Good structure shows on contact. Good, juicy blackberry flavors show as well, and a hint of mint that shows its green side toward the finish. The oak is powerful late here as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Probably should not have opened yet. Took a real long time to open up, and when it did, it couldn't shake a slight bitterness on the finish. Thankfully some fruit started to peak through about 3 hours in. Good acidity made this a nice wine to have with a meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat limited in aromatic volume even after being open for several hours. It does hint at some pleasant cherry and fresh forest-after-a-rainstorm notes but I had to squint and search intently to find them. Some vibrant shots of acidity the first few sips. Surprisingly tannic when consumed on its own but works nicely with food. The wine is young and may improve beautifully with time, but for now I can't see my way to enthusiastically recommending this wine as outstanding. Still, a nice bottle to have on your table for a sit down occasion.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was lovely, very young. Light red. Dark fruit and baking spice nose, muted per some notes below. Oak, dark fruit, good acid. Great balance, but for a touch of heat. Medium finish. Pleasure factor is high, with just enough complexity to hold its own or be paired with salmon and mango. No bad flavors to speak of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2007 Shea Pinot Noir 2008 Estate is a pretty, transparent cherry red, and it had a relatively muted nose, a bit floral, some red cherry, some darker fruits. It paired well with sauteed mushrooms and a dry aged New York strip, but struggled on its own. It had dark fruit, a bit of alcohol, some fine tannins, and was well balanced, but again, the fruit seemed muted to me. It was more typical of Burgundian Pinot. The 2008 is relatively new, so perhaps it just needs some time to open up. It was medium weight, had good acidity, and a mid-length finish, about 20 seconds or more. Harvey Steiman on Shea Estate Pinot Noir over the past decade: http://bit.ly/aPafx1 He seemed to feel very differently about the '08 than I did, suggesting it's one of the best vintages of the decade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tried at winery. Much darker fruit than 2007. Nice balance but a bit heavy on oak. Needs some time. Dick Shea told me that 2008 and 2009 are perhaps the best years for pinot since 2004 for the Willamette Valley.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After hearing about the 2009 Oregon vintage I had high hopes for this wine, but it tasted mostly of oak and smoke and took awhile for the fruit to develop. Can't wait to see what this tastes like in a few years once the edge is warn down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way way way too young. Wonderful nose, but it struggled to open up on the palate over 2 hours in the decanter. Has a great future, but now is not the time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/4/2021 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose is fresh with a savory / umami character to is. Also light red fruits, some dark spices, chicken stock. Palate has a lot of energy, sappy fruit (which is not showing to be primarily red, black or blue, feels like a true medley), showing some secondary character; soy, dark anise, cocoa. Very fine texture. Excellent!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - pinkhouse Likes this wine: 93 Points
As the old saying goes, there are no great wines, instead fantastic bottles. This humble wine was exceptional at 12 - fruit very much singing and remarkable balance and length. Everything working in tandem. Simply fantastic juice and hope my few remaining bottles can match the performance of this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2020 - Winiac wrote: 88 Points
Fruity and generous with acid minus that gives the wine a past peak impression. Tad hot. Drinkable but not sure if it has the stuffing to evolve any more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2020 - cephomer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Grabbed from the cellar last nite and PNP. Interesting pinot. Fairly intense nose of wild flowers, violets and black cherries. I've had this wine awhile back but I see it differently today. Bigger, more lush and spicy, and hotter than I recall. There's a sense of foresty earthiness here, combined with some fairly ripe fruit--black cherries--and Asian spices. The wine is rich and lush--particularly so for a PN, but it has a sense of elegance as well. I like the wine but it's not my style of PN, and is a bit hot. Still, I did last nite and continue to enjoy it today. Also, this wine is far from over the hill. I believe it's currently hitting its stride, and is a quality wine--particularly if you prefer this style of PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/5/2020 - NPBWineGuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
The CT drinking window for this wine closed in 2017. I found a bottle in the dark recesses of my storage and decided I should wait no longer. After 30 min in the glass it was delicious. Soft and rounded flavors. A testament to the quality Shea Wine Cellars produces.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2020 - prasm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus intensity, dark fruit - bramble and black cherry, dark floral notes - violets, and Asian spice. Palate: Medium bodied, earthy cherry and spice attack, great mouth-feel and balance, nice spice driven lift thru the mid-palate, subtle earthy notes appear in the back-end and balance out wonderfully with the up front fruit. Finish: Lengthy, but subtle notes of red fruit, spice, and earthiness. This is drinking fantastic now and will likely hold on for 3+ years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2020 - PhN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious PN in its prime. Went very well with a spaghetti dinner. Opened in 30 minutes. Light flavor, good fruit, balanced, dark in color. At 12 years, I think this one is ready to drink. Reading some earlier comments makes me wonder if we had the same wine. Could it all be accounted for by bottle variation?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2020 - smoothjazz wrote: 88 Points
2008 was a stellar vintage; I thought this would be a benchmark wine and have kept these wines in my cellar now for 12 years. Upon opening, the nose was of tar and over-ripe plum. Fruit was pleasing with low acidity and tannin. Finish was quick and non-distinctive. After a two hour decant, the obnoxious nose dissipated with a soft bouquet, but not distinctive. Same fruit as first opened and a finish with no distinction. This is why I rated it a 88. Willamette Valley producers are doing a lot better especially with the 2014, 2015 & 2016 vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2020 - Haroldz7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful pinot! I love Shea Wine Cellars ability to capture the dark fruit flavors of pinot. Make no mistake, this is no French Pinot Noir! This is a bold, yet fresh tasting pinot with lots of dark fruit flavors and a nose of dark red fruits. Medium bodied with plenty of life left, but I say - WHY NOT? Drink it now!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2020 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
I can't believe it's not port....
It's hot. And it's a mess. But it's not a hot mess.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2019 - bobdobilina wrote: 91 Points
Clear and dark Sangria color.
Exotic and floral nose of candle smoke, pepper, wild flowers and black cherries.
Interesting wine on the palate. If i saw this blind i would call it as a New California style Syrah. The type that is now grown in super marginal Syrah growing areas like the Sonoma Coast or Mendocino.
In that context, this is mid-weight, dry but with sweet fruit, black cherries and raspberries, iodine and a touch of soil.
Slightly difficult to rate, as it's nor particularly varietal to me. Nonetheless if this said Syrah on the label i would like the style and give it maybe a 91. So i'll stick to that (88 as a Pinot for me).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2019 - Winiac wrote: 86 Points
Past peak. Flat and flabby, but not tired.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2019 - vinewine Likes this wine:
Drank in February 2019. Delicious Pinot!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2018 - winemaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sweet fruit. Fairly ripe. Nice effort.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2018 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2008 Oregon Pinot: Blind. Rather reticent and tight- subtle notes of cherry and spice. Medium tannin. Develops a nice floral element to the bouquet that I enjoy quite a bit. Has a good bit of tannin to shed yet.
My #4, Domino's #6
Group #2, 41 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2018 - SeaWine wrote: 90 Points
Compared to others' recent tasting notes, this was just OK for me. Lost my notes, but recall this was a richer style that perhaps has softened with age, but less interesting and/or less to my taste than similarly priced WV Pinot noir. 89-90. (Bottles I'd prefer: 2009 Brittan Vineyards Basalt Block, 2011 Big Table Farm Sunnyside)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2018 - Pour Boy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great bottle of wine, this one won a 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting that we hosted back in 2012. It has only gotten better. Sadly, my last bottle, but it was great to enjoy this with my father.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Color showing signs of age. Smells fresh and warmly spiced with some clove, and notes of delicious leather. Fruit profile is very dark, dark cherry and black plum. Late palate has some toffee, almond and coffee. Tannin well integrated. Well developed bottle showing good secondary and tertiary characteristics and drinking nicely. I have one more bottle and won't wait too long to drink it, definitely in the next year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2018 - Beethoven Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wife and I enjoyed drinking this bottle very much. Opened and aired it for a good hour and a half before pouring a proper glass. Fairly deep color in the glass. Initially it tasted a bit flat, but eventually the fruit did come through. The nose also took a bit of time to become pronounced. Not fragrant to my nose, but almost hot. A fairly big and thick wine and still drinking well after four hours. The finish is long enjoyable. I still have a few more bottles left and I'll probably hold on to those a little longer before having another.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2017 - Ecb1456 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich thick and juicy. Beautiful pinot that holds up well to food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2017 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
This is pretty thick for a pinot. There is lots of dark fruit and a fair bit of minerality. Medium length finish. Nice, but not really pinot-ish I thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2017 - hawkeye54 wrote: 91 Points
Opened the bottle two hours before drinking. Drank over four hours to see if there was any evolution. Not much. Very enjoyable, fruity, medium-full bodied. Third of four bottles and while they have all been good, it's not going to improve from here. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2017 - wondersofwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
14.2% abv. Medium garnet color; nearly opaque. The wine is quite fragrant with heady cherry and floral notes. Cherry fruit and herbs on the palate. It is well integrated and may be peaking. The finish is lengthy. A pleasure to drink. It is versatile. I could see it with roast chicken, Cornish hen, other fowl or pork (possibly salmon also.) I regret that I didn't buy additional bottles on sale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2017 - PDX-S wrote:
1 hr slow o to start. Zalto Burgundy glass.
Really nice color in the glass, not quite to bricking, but the slight darkening and fading that precedes it.
Fairly concentrated aromas, smells like WV. Hard cherries, soft raspberries, even a mildly floral cherry blossom scent, with just a touch of rich and loamy earth.
Smooth and supple in the mouth, it is racy and acidic up front with a smooth segue to some largely resolved, medium fine tannins.
While it is easy to drink, there is still quite a sense of concentration. Not as laid back and open as I'd like, it is still holding on tightly. Juicy dried cherries (if that's not too much of an oxymoron), cola, and some radish greens come across on the palate.
Pleasant, but too young and tight for my preference. This is a hold for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2017 - Domer99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Unfortunately my last bottle. These are still going strong. Big nose as soon as it was opened. The fruit has faded a bit with secondary characteristics taking a bigger role. Bigger tannins than I expect for a Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2017 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
At the "Earth" tasting, library selections. Have been a big fan of Shea Wine Cellars over the years, fun to taste this vintage.
Medium/dark ruby color. Expressive nose of red raspberry, baking spice and floral notes. Palate of cherry, cola, red licorice, mocha(?), some spice. Medium bodied wine, nice texture, medium finish. Aging nicely and may be entering its prime at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2016 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 91 Points
Monolithic, concentrated, port-like, a bit over the top.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2016 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice PN from Oregon. Still one of my favorites. Not too heavy, not too light. Well balanced. Great on it's own or with food. This one is in a great place right now. Dark ruby in color, no bricking yet. A lovely nose of cherry and roses. Palate is dark cherry, raspberry, a bit spicy, and a little smokey. Long finish. Continually improved as the night went on. 91-93 points.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2016 - cephomer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just grabbed from my cellar and drank with the Whites last nite at FGR in Byram. Pretty cherry/ruby in color. Cherries and strawberries on the nose. Light to medium bodied, not particularly tannic, good amount of red fruit, delicate & soft with nice length. I haven't had much experience with the 08s but I didn't find this to be particularly big or lush at all. Indeed, it was much more on the elegant, soft side. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2016 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really pleasant experience with this new world pinot. In a very good place right now. Certainly "modern" being lush and fruit forward. Really well made. Wife even commented on it as to how good it was- a rare admission. Paired with salmon and basil cream pasta with asparagus. Delicious on its own and with the meal. Wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/14/2016 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
No notes and I drank it a couple of days ago, but it has filled out nicely over the past few years. Typical Shea - big, lush and rich - at least by Oregon pinot standards. Dark fruits with a full body, great balance and a creamy, smooth texture. Adds some complexity and depth after about 30 -60 minutes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2016 - galewskj wrote: 86 Points
Shea Pinot Provided by and at Gary's: A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about 30 minutes. Frankly, this was a dissapointment. Soapy rosey perfumed licorice nose. The palate is more like a cherry liqueur. Really hot. Maybe an off bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2016 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasting (Gary's Place): This bottle was not right. I suspect heat damage, it had some anise, oak, and earth on the nose, but the palate was oak, alcohol, and largely devoid of fruit, what was there seemed baked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2016 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
San Francisco Wine & Food Society Dinner - Burgundy Grapes on a Sea Voyage (Waterbar, 399 Embarcadero, San Francisco): Opened for several hours before serving alongside a 1999 Vincent Girardin Volnay 1re Cru Les Caillerets and a 2009 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Russian River. No detailed notes but......delicate, poised, beautiful. Seriously impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2016 - johnh1001 wrote: 90 Points
Rich, ripe, dark and creamy fruit. Touch of spice. Good right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - renapen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened immediately, crimson in color, rich in berry notes: cranberry and cherry. no sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2015 - rralls wrote: 91 Points
Needs a little air to open up the nose, but it's still a fairly full-bodied pinot for OR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2015 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 93 Points
In an awesome spot with fruit integration and depth to go the distance on the palate
a delight during our oregon pinot tasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2015 - rralls wrote: 92 Points
Had a tastes after wife brought back home leftovers from dinner. A real full bodied pinot imo. Good value at the $30 I paid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2014 - khmark7 wrote:
Funky upon opening. Have yet to be impressed with the 2008 vintage. Tannic initially, these wines continue to show very little fruit and even less PN character. Tannic and emotionless. Bottle variation, bad cork?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 90 Points
A clear ruby color. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, some strawberry, anise, earth, spice and cigar box. The fruit is not as intense as my prior tastings of the wine. The tannins are mostly resolved. A lot lighter bodied now compared to prior tastings, but still and elegant wine. A long finish on the back palate that turns both mild and soft after 10 seconds.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - wffinn wrote: 91 Points
Drank with cod and shrimp with fennel (Anne Burrell's recipe). Despite the presence of chardonnay and anisette in the seafood stock, this pinot noir was a perfect match with complementary flavors and aromas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - davudvl Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Nice nose of fruit, but left a tart/sour aftertaste. Also a little hot on the palate. Maybe an off bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2014 - Jonathan T wrote: 88 Points
This wasn't what I expected. It was silky and plush with lush, rich, jammy black fruits, and strawberry and cherry compote. There was little of the earthiness and terroir I expect from Willamette, and I felt it was lacking structure and backbone. This tasted more like a warmer climate pinot than Oregon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2014 - justmill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very subtle nose. Dark cherry and earth come forward early. Faint cola on the finish. Not particularly long lasting. Drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
The ninth time I've had the pleasure of having this wine. My prior eight notes pretty much sum it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2014 - KPB wrote: 90 Points
A medium bodied, tasty red. Pretty purple color, nose is more spicy than I remembered, with red raspberry fruit and just a hint of the sasparilla it showed when young. Coats the palate with a lively, mineral-driven finish. Very nice balance. I doubt that this wine will improve hugely with more age and would drink it during the next 3-5 years, but to me it represents quite a good value (I paid $38) and is certainly drinking very well right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2014 - winelover1808 wrote: 89 Points
very bright fruit - more californian to me than oregon/burgundian -- a bit one dimensional. very pleasant but not outstanding. solid above average but not memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2014 - Emvip wrote: 89 Points
Rickspicks nailed it. I'd give it 89 as it's drinking now, but if this comes together over a couple years this could become very nice. I'd give it 2-3 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2014 - KenPlace wrote: 90 Points
Good bottle, typical Willamette Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2014 - rickspicks wrote:
No notes. Not a lot of nose, but what is there is very nice - cherry earth and spice. Rich, ripe and juicy with nice depth and concentration. Much bigger than a typical Oregon pinot (although Shea is typically bigger than most, so not surprising). A lot of astringency on the finish - which diminished with time, but never completely disappeared. Overall had a lot to like, but seemed disjointed and out of balance. I expected more from this vineyard/winery/vintage. Will not score and think either that I had a poor bottle, or that it needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2014 - whitmanlholt wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. This is a cherry-red wine. On the nose, there is cherry, rose hips, and a hint of alcohol. In the mouth, there is some sweetness, cola, and some spicy cinnamon. Overall, this is okay but not great; it runs a bit hot. 90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
The 8th time I've tasted this wine. Much the same as my notes from 6/9/3013 and prior. A nice wine to enjoy while watching the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies at Sochi.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2014 - pmk wrote: 90 Points
Popped and pouredVery dark color, hot nose with underlying fruit, when opened also hot on the palate with fruit increasing as it sat in the glass and opened up. This wine needs time to open up, either let it sit a few more years or decant. I left it in the bottle without gas and will try it tomorrow and update this note
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - Domer99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Again, brick red, but showing some stronger fruit on this bottle. Rasberries for sure. This is not California fruit bomb, but the fruit isn't hidden behind secondary characteristics either. A nice expression of what Oregon can do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2013 - brian przyzycki wrote: 90 Points
This never opened up for me. Dick Shea is the Oracle of Pinot so I am going to sit on my remaining 2 bottles for another few years. I have faith these will come around. Beautiful silky wine that just wouldn't budge.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2013 - slywka7 wrote: 89 Points
Drank over 3 days. Day 1 was very closed. Not a lot of fruit. Was kind of disappointed to be honest given the reputation of the 2008 vintage. 88 points. Day 2 really opened up. fruit on both the nose and the palate shined through. Delicate, nuanced, very feminine wine. 90 points. Day 3, similar to day 2 but just not quite as good. 89 points. Basically a dead ringer for Burgundy, this is going to need plenty of time to come around. Won't touch anymore of my 08's for at least another 3-5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Pinot Tasting at Gary's (Hudson, Wisconson): Not impressive. Needs food with charcoal, spices, roses and floral. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
2008 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasting (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Dark red color. Decanted for 2.5hrs. Nose is cherry, florals, cedar, dusty. Palate is dusty, underbrush, tart cherry, very spicy, oak, some heat at the times. Needs food, not one you can just sit and sip on its own. A bottle of '08 Block 5 was nothing at all like this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2013 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
This is the seventh time I've had the pleasure of consuming this wine. Refer to my prior notes - pretty much the same now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2013 - ChrisBman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine is drinking well now. Took about 30 mins to open up. Nice, light Pinot, with more red fruits than classic blackberry. Would pair this with a light meal or salmon. The pasta dish we had with this was almost too heavy for this wine. Still a lovely Pinot that is well balanced and still has some time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2013 - M.Batard wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color, medium bodied. Black cherry and earth, and savory. Silky tannins, and well balanced. Not a long finish. Easy to drink, but not fascinating
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2013 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color; slight yellowing on rim. More intense and robust from my first tastings, prior to April '13. Almost identical to the last tasting. "Aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, touches of strawberry, earth, forest floor, cigar box and spice. ... The tannins are velvety and nicely balanced into the wine. Along with the richness and fruit concentration, it is now more full bodied. Nice structure and balance. A long soft and velvety finish." Score 92+. Bought a case, so I have a few more left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2013 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
This wine has opened up more and intensified, with more richness and concentration of fruit in the mouth. It still has aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, touches of strawberry, earth, forest floor, cigar box and spice. I did not get mint this time. The tannins are velvety and nicely balanced into the wine. Along with the richness and fruit concentration, it is now more full bodied. Nice structure and balance. A long soft and velvety finish. Today was the best rendition of the wine so far. 92+ score.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2013 - Naso wrote: 88 Points
Not the best effort- ill let it sit for a few years to see if it mellows out. Nose is muted as is taste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2013 - billyfitness wrote: 88 Points
Of all the Shea's I've had, this was the most dissapointing. Descent nose, but watery mouthfeel, and not a great finish. It had all of the components of an Oregon Pinot, but weak and not much going on. I hope the '09 and '10's I have in the cellar are better. Kind of sad if other vinifyers make better wine out of your own grapes, right?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2013 - Americana wrote: 89 Points
As expected, a good bit earthier and less fruity than Cali pinots. P&P through aerator, and still needed a good 15 or so mins in the glass, and benefitted from even more. WS window says drink by 2016. Enjoyable now but I wish I had had waited another year or so, when the tannins have integrated a tad more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2013 - Mary Crawford Does not like this wine:
This is my second of two bottles and both were unremarkable. Almost watery taste, no particular tannins or acid. Very disappointing, especially given the price.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - JackieTreehorn wrote: 84 Points
Hopefully I had an off bottle. Nothing really going on here. Nose was muted and palate was flat. Not what I expected from this producer and a Pinot of 14.2% alcohol. It was drinkable, just not good at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2012 - Chainthroer wrote: 91 Points
A medium ruby color; still purple on the rim. Complex aromas of black cherry, raspberry, earth, cigar box, spice and some mint. In the mouth I still get a slight acidic sting on the tongue from the tannin. Rich and a decent concentration of fruit. Great acid and balance. A long spicy and relatively smooth finish. Pretty good with left over turkey.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2012 - KPB wrote: 90 Points
Richly flavorful, concentrated wine with some spice notes, medium length finish. Classic Oregon PN, could be a Pommard from a ripe year....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - jbouchy wrote: 90 Points
Uncorked, poured in glass for one hour and enjoyed over the next two hours. Fruit forward Pinot with nice acidity. Alcohol content feels high on the palate. Good wine but feel like there is much more that will evolve as it ages. Perhaps my expectations of the 08 Oregon pinots has been too high as I open every bottle with excitement. Will lay the other ones down for a while longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - bugdoced wrote: 91 Points
a wonderful year for oregon pinot lovers;this was tight at first but opened up after 45 min.;more fruit than earth on the palate but nobody was complaining
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2012 - Chainthroer wrote: 91 Points
A medium reddish-ruby color this time. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, earth, cigar box, spices, a touch of mint. The wine seems to have slightly regressed, as it is not quite as velvety in the mouth as my last descriptive eleven months ago. I get a very slight acidic sting on the tongue (which disappeared with food). Rich and has a nice concentration of fruit. Great acid. A medium to long spicy finish. Paired extremely well with smoked salmon. The best parts of the wine are the nose and the pairing with smoked salmon. It seemed to be more appreciable with the food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2012 - Hermosabritdad wrote: 82 Points
Even though we opened 2 hours before tasting, it started pretty lightly, but once in the glass it seriously got better and opened up. Subtle, with several layers. After an hour some nice moist tobacco nose, with a little bit of maple and custard. Good mouth feel, medium fruit of blueberry. Overall a nice subtle Pinot, that is very enjoyable. Give it time in the glass, and enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2012 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby color with a sweet raisin nose. Dark cherries with blacks currants, clove and spices. Could probably improve over the next 2 -3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2012 - hawkeye54 wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was unimpressive. Just fruity and not very interseting to me. Left me wanting more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2012 - Domer99 wrote: 91 Points
Splash decanted; draft over 4 hours. After a couple of hours, the color was brick red, not the light purple I expect for my pinot. It was defintetly no fruit bomb, with more secondary characteristics than California style fruit. A big pinot, but balanced. Shea does great work again. A little unique for Oregon, but defintetly a strong showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - Winelover101 wrote: 92 Points
Floral and initially quite herbal. Not as rich and fruity as the 2009 but perhaps more elegant in an understated way. Needed 1-2 hours decanting. A very nice wine that paired perfectly with roast chicken and rosemary roasted potatoes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic. This wine needs about 3+ years. Better than the 2006 Bergstrom, and beating the Cayuse at the WOTN between 16 different wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - uhclem wrote: 87 Points
Agree with Serge on this one. It's atypical of OR pinot and not my favorite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2012 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 89 Points
Perhaps drinkers should hold onto this bottle for some years - maybe 5. Didn't start opening up until mid-bottle to reveal aromas of truffles, mushrooms and damp forest floor - kinda reminds me of a Gevrey - although the nose wasn't as powerful as I was expecting. The palate also was interesting but a bit unbalanced- savory and fairly complex with measurable bitter tannins but lacked the acidity which would add some much needed vibrancy. Overall good Pinot but the QPR just isnt here - I've had way better Pinot at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2011 - wffinn wrote: 92 Points
Earthy bouquet with subtle, not overpowering fruit that evolved mid-palate and concluded with a surprising finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2011 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Big, bold, extracted, not exactly what one would expect from Oregon Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2011 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color (must have transformed over the last 7 months, as I previously called it dark, dark garnet!). Does not seem quite as tight, as my last review on 3-5-11. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, earth, forest floor, spice, a hint of toffee; oak nicely integrated into the wine. There was some mint in the beginning, but it blew off. A smooth, velvety texture in the mouth. A nice soft finish that seemed to linger a little longer than my last review. Glad I bought some more! Score 92-93.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2011 - awise45 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, with light friuts and a smooth finish. Delicate and yet still complex and interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2011 - Iguanasneeze wrote: 95 Points
2nd place in 8 person blind tasting of Willamette Vly pinots between '09 Soter Mineral Springs, '08 Shea Estate, '08 Dominio IV Poetry and Roses, '08 Colene Clemens Reserve, '09 St Innocent Temperance Hill, and '10 Ayres Vineyard Perspective Ribbon Ridge. Personaly, this was my favorite of the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2011 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
Made in the silky smooth elegant style as is the custom for Shea, this dark ruby beauty does not disappoint. Both spicy and elegant with cherry, light tea, cranberry and raspberry seemlessly presented. Should age well and be pleasurable for at least 5-7 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2011 - wr12162 wrote:
Good, but not great. 88.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2011 - Pour Boy wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was the unanimous favorite at a 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting in July. Picked up a bottle the following week. Sorry to say that this time it didn't equal its performance from last month. The silky tannins were still there, which were lovely, but it lacked the complexity and structure of a fine Pinot Noir.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2011 - yonster24 wrote:
I've had a few Shea wines before and have liked them (if not loved them) but I have to say...this was not good. Over ripe cherries on the nose with some chocolate/oak. Big and lush on the palate, overly so. Medium length finish with no acidity to speak of. Felt like a badly made overdone CALI PInot, let alone an Oregon one. Oy....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2011 - rbfleming wrote: 87 Points
Very earthy. Acid fruits. Not sufficient body to hold up to the acidity, I think. Pleasant, not memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2011 - Pour Boy wrote: 93 Points
This bottle blew away all comers in a tasting of 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir. Silky smooth tannins and a lovely finish. Worth finding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2011 - awise45 wrote: 90 Points
Nice blend of strawberry, cherry, and vanilla. Not particularly complex, but very pleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2011 - WineTime10 wrote: 90 Points
I have mixed feelings about this wine. It showed bright red fruit of Cherry and raspberry, and it was very delicate. My problem is that this just isn't a complex wine. While it was definitely an easy drinker, it lacked anything other than fruit on the nose and mid palate, and the finish left a lot to be desired.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2011 - Badgermitch wrote: 91 Points
Drinking very well. enjoyed this Pinot. Very Easy going. Drank before the Bouchaine Gee, which it didn't hold up to.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2011 - uhclem wrote: 90 Points
Easygoing wine with ample fruit--perhaps just a bit much fruit-wise, but stops a bit short of California territory.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2011 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
This is really great. A lot of earthiness on both the nose and palate. Dark cherry, slightly bitter, earthiness, some spiciness, and a little smoke. Long finish. On the long finish, just a hint of heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2011 - flying_wineau Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smoky raspberry, cherry, and earth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Opened this 2008 earlier than I normally would to decide whether to buy more. Purple rim; dark, dark garnet body color. Black cherry, blackberry, earthy, forest floor, just a tad of mint; nice oak integrated into the wine. Concentrated fruit and good mouth feel. Decent finish - 15+ seconds. Tannins are soft and I'm believing the wine is still a bit closed. Should see some future wine transformation and possibly a better score. Probably will buy some more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2011 - Central Coast Wino wrote: 89 Points
On day 1, pop and pour: Very well balanced and smooth, but not as full-flavored as I prefer. 90 points. On day 2: Still nicely balanced, but rather bland and disappointing. 85 points. If you like a well-balanced wine that's fairly mild, then this is the wine for you. I went with an 89 overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2011 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Medium dark purple. Full bodied, fruit forward (strawberry, cherry) yet earthy. Very aromatic. Moderateto light tannins. Well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
Darkest pinot I've ever consumed. Drinking great now it should even get better with some age. A screaming buy. Buy more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2011 - vine20 wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby color with a strong dark red fruit nose and a hint of pinot air. Decanted 60 minutes. Big, ripe, magnificent black cherry with hints of sweet red cherry, cola and spice. Flavors enlarged and softened over the next 60 minutes in the glass. Full, rounded, rich mouthfeel, balanced (despite the 14.2% alcohol) silky and elegant. Modest tannins and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2011 - wineaux2 wrote: 92 Points
This pinot was seamless. Dark ruby in color, the wine featured black raspberry, black cherry, spice and a slight hint of vanilla oak. Pleasant stem notes made an appearance too as the wine lingered in the glass. The body was silky, and the finish was enjoyable. This one was a complete wine with all of its components perfectly balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - tdh42 wrote: 88 Points
I'm having a rollercoaster with this wine, all in the last 9 months. First bottle was decent, 2nd bottle (in the summer) was much better. The third one just didn't have it - struggled to open up and show its flavors. Not bad at all, just a bit disappointed after the previous one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2010 - last chance wrote: 91 Points
One More Time: This wine had great candied cherry flavors. I didn't enjoy the 07 Shea wines that I tasted, but 08 was obviously much kinder to the vineyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2010 - jdesimone4 wrote: 84 Points
Needed a lot of time to open up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/13/2010 - jlgnml wrote: 90 Points
Confrerie de La Chaine des Rotisseurs Bailliage de Chicago (SWISSOTEL Chicago): Youthful to a fault, candied cherry, full plate, cough syrup, high alcohol and vanilla. Will age!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2010 - Jadiii wrote: 89 Points
Already tasting very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2010 - jimmythesaint wrote: 92 Points
Drank courtesy of a friend and loved this bottle. Excellent balance from start to finish!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2010 - korkd wrote: 92 Points
(opened at OR-Burgundy tasting) lighter than expected for '08 but very nice, top wine of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2010 - sayward wrote: 90 Points
light red fruit on the nose (raspberry). nice acidity on the palate. very approachable upon opening, no need for a decant. this is a nice wine to buy if you want to consume immediately.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2010 - GrapeApe808 wrote: 91 Points
Nice. Restrained. Elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2010 - sehill Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another outstanding showing for this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2010 - sehill Likes this wine: 92 Points
This begins by a showing wonderful, expressive aromatics that focus on red cherry, floral and spice notes. Some subtle earth and oak tones make an appearance with airing. The color is a youthful medium ruby. The medium bodied palate shows excellent balance and length. The tannins make an appearance on the finish and balance youthful forward fruit. This should benefit from a year or two of bottle age to develop additional nuance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2010 - subtlet wrote:
Yamhill Carlton Tasting Event (The Armory, Portland Oregon): Dark cherries with thick skins appear on the nose, along with soft, dark earth. Good structure shows on contact. Good, juicy blackberry flavors show as well, and a hint of mint that shows its green side toward the finish. The oak is powerful late here as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2010 - pkbackman wrote: 88 Points
Probably should not have opened yet. Took a real long time to open up, and when it did, it couldn't shake a slight bitterness on the finish. Thankfully some fruit started to peak through about 3 hours in. Good acidity made this a nice wine to have with a meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat limited in aromatic volume even after being open for several hours. It does hint at some pleasant cherry and fresh forest-after-a-rainstorm notes but I had to squint and search intently to find them. Some vibrant shots of acidity the first few sips. Surprisingly tannic when consumed on its own but works nicely with food. The wine is young and may improve beautifully with time, but for now I can't see my way to enthusiastically recommending this wine as outstanding. Still, a nice bottle to have on your table for a sit down occasion.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2010 - alr6767 wrote: 90 Points
This was lovely, very young. Light red. Dark fruit and baking spice nose, muted per some notes below. Oak, dark fruit, good acid. Great balance, but for a touch of heat. Medium finish. Pleasure factor is high, with just enough complexity to hold its own or be paired with salmon and mango. No bad flavors to speak of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2010 - jschmeling wrote: 89 Points
The 2007 Shea Pinot Noir 2008 Estate is a pretty, transparent cherry red, and it had a relatively muted nose, a bit floral, some red cherry, some darker fruits. It paired well with sauteed mushrooms and a dry aged New York strip, but struggled on its own. It had dark fruit, a bit of alcohol, some fine tannins, and was well balanced, but again, the fruit seemed muted to me. It was more typical of Burgundian Pinot. The 2008 is relatively new, so perhaps it just needs some time to open up. It was medium weight, had good acidity, and a mid-length finish, about 20 seconds or more. Harvey Steiman on Shea Estate Pinot Noir over the past decade: http://bit.ly/aPafx1 He seemed to feel very differently about the '08 than I did, suggesting it's one of the best vintages of the decade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2010 - ChrisBman wrote: 90 Points
Tried at winery. Much darker fruit than 2007. Nice balance but a bit heavy on oak. Needs some time. Dick Shea told me that 2008 and 2009 are perhaps the best years for pinot since 2004 for the Willamette Valley.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2010 - Troy McHenry Likes this wine: 90 Points
After hearing about the 2009 Oregon vintage I had high hopes for this wine, but it tasted mostly of oak and smoke and took awhile for the fruit to develop. Can't wait to see what this tastes like in a few years once the edge is warn down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2010 - tdh42 wrote: 89 Points
Way way way too young. Wonderful nose, but it struggled to open up on the palate over 2 hours in the decanter. Has a great future, but now is not the time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment