2019 WALT Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
Critic Review
WALT has been sourcing from this outstanding Oregon Vineyard for many years now and this cool vintage effort is really singing even at the two year mark. The pretty red florals brilliantly combine with fresh red fruits aromatically. Generous and soft with a rich mouthfeel, the Pinot Noir delivers peat moss flavors alongside ripe red cherry and tobacco leaf with good finesse and a long finish. This is already quite nicely evolved, as this beautiful new Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next decade."
92 Points | Wine Spectator, Tim Fish
"A handsome red that's polished and structured, this offers layered raspberry and rhubarb flavors flanked by dusky spice and rose petal accents. Drink now through 2029."
91 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Sean P. Sullivan
"Aromas of freshly ground espresso bean, char and dark cherry lead to a full-flavored palate that mixes fruit and barrel, with the latter often getting out front at present. Given the pedigree, expect some time will integrate it all. The stuffing is there on the fruit.
Oregon’s Willamette Valley
Sits at 45 degrees latitude, stretching south of Portland.
Diverse Land Contours
Diverse climates garner amazingly distinctive
fruit character.
Shea Vineyard
Well draining volcanic and seabed soils.
Light ruby in color, the wine opens with a perfume of cranberry, raspberry and strawberry aromas. Delicate hints of rose petal, moss and baking spices interweave with the fruit. The body is on the lighter end of the spectrum, with layers of ruby grapefruit, ripe berries and minerality. The tension and structure on the finish punctuate this inviting and complex wine.
Strawberry
Rose Petal
Baking Spices
Ruby Grapefruit
We are very fortunate to be able to source fruit from Dick and Deirdre Shea - pioneers of grape growing in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Shea Vineyard's sedimentary soils and unique aspect produce wines of excellent concentration and depth in one of the Pacific Coast's most premier, and extreme, growing regions.
| Bottle Size | 750mL |
|---|---|
| Varietal Composition | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Barrel Aging | 10 Months in 40% New French Oak (François Frères) |
| Appellation | Willamette Valley, Oregon |
| Vineyard | Shea Vineyard |
| Vintage Notes | The 2019 vintage began with a wet spring bringing three inches of rain in May. In response to the late rains our vineyards received diligent attention to control vigorous vine growth. A long Indian summer followed with mild weather, allowing the fruit to ripen at slow, even place. The long picking windows bore fruit with beautiful freshness at optimal ripeness. The resulting wines are exceptionally elegant. |
