St Innocent Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shea Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA, 35 miles SW of Portland, Oregon. The grapes for this wine come from two blocks: Block 6, planted in 1998 with Dijon clone 115 and a small amount of Pommard (11 rows), faces SE slope on a hillside of shallow sedimentary soil at about 450-500' in elevation. The Terrace Block faces SW, planted in 2002 with the Pommard clone, and gets its name from the terraces carved into its steep slope.

Winemaker notes

Hearty dishes with some sweetness and richness like lamb chops, pork tenderloin, duck breast and lentil dishes.

2017

Burghound 92♥: A very restrained, indeed almost timid, nose reveals its mix of earth, briar, spice and dark berries. There is both excellent volume and richness to the suave, seductive and palate coating flavors that retain good vibrancy on the dusty, firm, compact, robust and powerful finale. This is clearly still on the way up and will need extended patience if you wish to see it at its peak. Lovely.

James Suckling 94: A fresh, vivid red with sliced strawberry, orange peel, crushed stone and some flowers. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a long, vivid finish. All in finesse and energy. Drink after 2023.

Vinous 93: Glistening magenta. Spice- and mineral-accented raspberry, boysenberry and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of five-spice powder and candied rose. Seamless, energetic and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated red and blue fruit, exotic spice and floral pastille flavors braced by a smoky mineral undertone. Shows superb definition and floral lift on the penetrating finish, which is framed by supple, harmonious tannins.

Wine Enthusiast 91: This is a lighter vintage and produced a less-impactful version of a wine from this iconic vineyard. It's balanced and tasty, with touches of tomato leaf and clean strawberry fruit. Tannins are lightly green but proportionate, with a kiss of barrel toast to finish. 

2018

Burghound 92♥: A very pretty, even perfumed, nose speaks of red currant, plum, briar and a plenitude of floral elements. I very much like the texture of the sleek and solidly concentrated medium-bodied flavors that terminate in more obviously structured and a sneaky long finale. This could also use better complexity, but the underlying material appears to be present for that to occur.

James Suckling 93: Strawberry and cherry pie with fresh flowers and a hint of pie crust. Medium body with crushed stone and subtle fruit. Creamy and polished texture to the finish. Drinkable now, but better in 2024.

Vinous 94: Limpid ruby-red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh raspberry and boysenberry, pungent flowers and exotic spices, and a spicy nuance builds as the wine opens up. There's a compelling blend of power and finesse to the appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors, which firm up slowly through the midpalate. Closes sappy, youthfully chewy and impressively long, with reverberating floral and spice notes and well-knit tannins that add framework and final grip.