2007 Auteur Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard

This was popped and poured tonight at Veronica’s in Haddonfield, and showed very well from the get go! This is a young wine, and I am surprising how well it drank with no decant. From the get go, this didn’t have the classic, subdued fruit profile that I typically find in Oregon pinot noir. It seemed a bit more fruit forward, and less like Burgundy, but I am not complaining in the least!


Gorgeous violet color in the glass, with a nose of plum, raspberry, and blackberry. Nice hints of earth, cocoa, and spice round out the nose, with subtle hints of strawberries. On the palate, wow! Is this wine really this young? If tasting blind, I never would have guessed this was an ’07, because it was so good from the start. This wine literally had no time to open up, but it didn’t seem to need it. Although, over the course of the next hour and 15 minutes, it did continue to evolve, and get better.

The palate showed good balance, and just seemed a bit more fruit forward and sweeter than most Shea Vineyard pinot we have had. Again, I am not complaining at all, and I would not say that it was candied in the least. Nice silky fruit with some black cherry, blackberry, strawberry, and other dark fruits. Good acidity, and well integrated tannins made this a joy to drink. Drink now or hold. 93 points. Cheers