2018 St. Innocent 'Shea Vineyard' Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton

Winemaker's Notes: Shea Vineyard Pinot noirs emphasize weight with good acidity, layered flavors, concentrated fruit, and terroir specific flavors. The Shea Pinot noirs Mark has produced consistently out-age wines from other sites. He also considers them to be the most complex and detailed wines he makes. The best wines of Burgundy are exceptionally detailed wines that age very well. If we apply that standard to Oregon, Shea is a great vineyard. Shea is actually two vineyards separated by a steep ravine. Both of the blocks used for St. Innocent are located in the East Field. Block 6 was planted in 1998 with Dijon clone 115 and a small amount of Pommard (11 rows). It lies on a long SE slope at about 600' in elevation. The Terrace Block faces SW, is planted with the Pommard clone, and gets its name from the terraces carved into its steep slope.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Vinous - "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."


Wine Spectator - "Detailed and structured, with boysenberry, sweet anise and fresh violet accents that gather tension and richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029. 875 cases made."