2005 Shea Wine Cellars Estate Pinot noir Tasting Notes
Avalon tasting notes: Very impressive. The nose offers raspberry, red cherry, black cherry, black raspberry, toast, and red raspberry jam. Flavors are of red and black cherry, raspberry, and sweet rich fruit.
We're even more excited about the 2005's than we were at this point with the 2004's. A transparency to the flavors is present, allowing layers and layers of intriguing fruit and fascinating spice/incense/perfume notes. The finish is long and reiterates the flavors, adding a sense of silky tannins and velvety lushness to the experience.
There's less sense of barrel toast and more sense of integration in the 2005 than there was in the 2004 at this point in its development. Integration, intensity, and complexity are all words that come to mind in describing this wine.
2-23-07 - Wine Spectator's Harvey Steiman, in his wine blog, drank the 2005 Estate at a restaurant and had this to say about it: "...our waiter (at Roaring Fork, in Scottsdale, AZ) pointed us toward the Pinot Noir he declared was his favorite: Shea Vineyard Estate 2005, an Oregon wine I have not yet rated (though I gave the 2004 a 95-point score).
Shea's style is fruit-centered, and the 2005 vintage (like the 2004) represents a more typical, balanced character than the results of the hotter years that preceded it. The wine has rich cherry and raspberry character, plus some nice hints of vanilla and cream, but no overt oak. Those are good signs, because oak and alcohol can react badly to peppery heat.
2004 Shea WIne Cellars Estate Tasting Notes
Wine Spectator 95 points: "Lithe, supple and expressive, offering layers and layers of white pepper-accented currant and cherry, with a mineral note that adds depth and distinction. Broad and open-textured, lasting beautifully on the finish against superfine tannins. Best from 2007 through 2016. 1,200 cases made. –HS"
Shea Estate Pinot noir 04 is intense in both scent and flavor. It's a gloriously aromatic Pinot, with violets and rose petals wafting through the wine. Starting with the scent of toasted cocoa and coffee beans, this wine explodes with aromas of classic red cherry and black cherry, red raspberry, blueberry, all underlaid by the scent of sweet violets. Flavors of classic blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, and soft hints of cinnamon and clove are followed by rich cassis and black plum notes, and tantalizing hints of violets and rose petals, again. The finish is very long, and most pleasing. Drinking well now with decanting, this wine has a fresh acidity and silky, a bit gripping tannins that call fo cellaring 3-6 years for continued enjoyment.- Avalon
2003 Shea Wine Cellars Estate Pinot noir Tasting Notes
2003 Estate notes: Aroma of Bing Cherries, purple floral notes and fresh tilled earth. Flavors of black raspberries, minerals and roasted spices. This Pinot is made from grapes carefully selected from throughout Shea Vineyard. It is already quite accessable and showing layers of flavor normally not revealed until Shea wines have another full year of bottle age.
This Pinot Noir is a blend from vines carefully selected throughout the vineyard. It is a big, rich wine that is representative of Shea Vineyard and this wonderful vintage. A great value.
2002 Shea Wine Cellars Tasting Notes
2002 notes: The Shea Estate Pinot noir 02 is a supple and elegant wine, with deep hints of smoke and toast on the nose, and mocha/char notes in the flavors of blackberry, black plum, dark cherry, and minerals. A long finish is ripe and appealing.