The 2008 Pinot noir, Shea Vineyard is a tribute to what a great vineyard can achieve in an excellent vintage. Its nose is complex with a potpourri of red raspberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruits, fresh and dried red roses and carnations, and hints of sweet spice and white pepper. In the mouth it is full of intensely rich raspberries, black raspberries, a dense floral perfume with hints of sweet herbs and an undertone of forest floor. Complex texturally, it is captivatingly interesting in the mouth.

The '08 Shea is structured for long term aging. Its level of concentration, perfect ripeness, and backbone of acidity will evolve slowly over the next 6-12 months and will probably peak in 12-18 years. This is a wine for those who seek Pinot noirs with multiple layers of flavor and aroma while revealing the details of this great terroir.

Production Notes
Shea Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA, 35 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon. The Pinot noir was planted in 1998 & 2000 in Block 6 of the east field on a hillside of shallow Willakenzie soil. It has a southeast exposure at an elevation of 450' to 500'.

The destemmed grapes were fermented in two small tanks after one or two days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 16 months in 39% new French oak barrels and was bottled by gravity without fining.

Crop Level 2.0 tons/ acre
Harvest 10/16/08
Bottled February 2010

This Pinot noir complements entrees with complex layered flavors. It is especially good with lamb, duck and other game birds. When served young, this wine is best decanted or allowed to breathe for several hours. It is drinkable at release and will benefit from aging up to 10 years.

Winemaker Notes
I believe that Shea Vineyard produces a very classic style of Pinot noir. These Pinot noirs emphasize elegance with good acidity, balanced flavors, well concentrated fruit, and nuances that are specific to the terroir of the vineyard. Because of their ripe tannins and supporting acidity, this style of Pinot noir is an excellent match with richly flavored foods.

2008 was an exceptional vintage, made exceptional by being quietly ordinary. Bloom was very late in variable weather. The result was smaller clusters with fewer berries. The summer passed quickly with veraison occurring earlier than expected, leaving the false impression that there was more crop hanging in the vineyard than there really was. Final ripening took place in endless cool, sunny days in an atmosphere of calm that I have never experienced, but hope to again. The fruit was picked clean and perfectly ripe. The only downside was the very small crop, our smallest in ten years.

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