2023 WALT Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
Critic Review
"Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2023 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir bursts with bold notes of strawberry preserves, pomegranate, and red roses, plus suggestions of forest floor and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft and juicy with just enough freshness and a savory finish."
94 Points | Owen Bargreen
"...pretty red roes petals that mingle well with orange peel, bergamot and suggestions of damp soils. Light cola and black raspberry notes mingle well on the palate, with beautiful finesse. Drinking well now, watch this evolve now and over the next fifteen years..."
93 Points | Vinous, Billy Norris
"...a supple, finessed, nuanced Pinot with a gorgeous floral perfume atop a citrusy base layer of spiced blood orange and tangerine. Elegant and persistent, the Shea rides a velvety wave of gentle acidity and super-fine tannins through the long finish. Very pretty."
2023 WALT Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
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, this wine is layered with expressive strawberry, raspberry, and ruby grapefruit flavors. Subtle hints of sous bois and rose petal accent the fruit profile. The palate is supple and multilayered, with a bright and structured finish set to evolve beautifully over time.
Strawberry
Raspberry
Ruby Grapefruit
Sous Bois
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 35% New French Oak |
| Appellation | Willamette Valley, Oregon |
| Vineyard | Shea Vineyard |
| Vintage Notes | The 2023 growing season brought an unusual reversal of patterns across the West Coast: while California was cooler and wetter than average, the Pacific Northwest experienced warmer and drier conditions. A cold, dry winter delayed budbreak by nearly three weeks, but once growth began, the vines quickly caught up. May’s warm, dry weather pushed the season back on track, and June and July offered ideal conditions. A mid-August heat wave added some pressure, though lighter yields helped concentrate the fruit. In the end, we are thrilled with the quality of the wines—showing depth, balance, and exciting potential. |
