Shea Pinot Provided by and at Gary's

11 tasters brought a whole bunch of delicious fatty food to accompany pinot from the Shea vineyard, which was all provided by our host. Also, a Sauternes - Tokaji - Port smackdown ensued.

• 2010 Shea Wine Cellars Chardonnay Shea Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  This received a short decant. Consumed a small glass at a tasting. This wine was quite lively and acidic. I welcome this style, and it is much different than California or Burgundy. Melon and a little apple. To me, the balance of this wine shines through and makes it enjoyable.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Shea Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. Initially, nice bright crispy fruit, a little tar &earth. Some alcohol, not bad. This gets darker in the glass and becomes more of a sappy California wine. 91 for the first 10 minutes, 88 afterward. If you're popping one soon, I'd not decant it and drink it quickly.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  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.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. This wine was dark and slightly brooding from the get-go. A bit alcoholic. Nice but lacks balance.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. Light bright red fruit, herbal cherry, some vanilla from oak, very well integrated right now, a little soft. This went down very easily.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. Light popping fruit on the nose. The palate is slightly darker. This seems to have more stuffing than the 2007 we had earlier. A little barnyard comes out with time. This is really nice, I'm not sure why I placed the 2007 ahead of it... but I did.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Shea Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  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?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Block 5 Shea Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour. A bit nicer than the regular 2008 Shea Shea. There is still a touch of anise, but it ends on a nice creamy finish. A bit of alcohol is present.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Alexana Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A 1 hour decant, drank a small glass over about an hour, and it's nice to end a tasting with a relatively good wine. Vanilla cherry on the palate. There is something a little artificial about it. It is not terribly balanced. The tannins a relatively significant for a pinot. Altogether, this leaves you with a very satisfied experience, but I'm a little surprised at the price. Apparently, this wine performed much better a couple years ago.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Château Suduiraut 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Consistent with previous notes. 375's are still drinking great.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Oremus Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 90 Points

  Hungary, Tokaji

  Drank a small pour at a tasting. This tokaji was a little different than others I have tried. There was a lot of orange in it. It was literally bursting with orange and apricot. It had a baked goods personality, as in the fruit was not fresh but something spiced and baked. It seemed a bit unrefined, it did not have the balance of the 2005 Suduiraut we drank alongside it. Still, it did hit my exceptional level for its overall positive qualities.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1977 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 87 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Popped, decanted for sediment, and served. This was quite alcoholic, and the fruit/flavor was shy. Not much going on, not much interest, and gobs of alcohol. There was some discussion about whether this should have been opened a day ahead of time. My experience with port is that they're often alcoholic on day 1 and always better on day 2. But out of lack of experience within this tasting group, we collectively decided to serve it as described.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

There was some question as to which would go best with the Stilton cheese - the Sauternes, the Tokaji or the port. The winner ended up being the Pear tart. Strange how things often go sideways.