Shea Wine Cellars 'Shea Vineyard' Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022

Winemaking

Shea Wine Cellars was founded by Dick and Deirdre Shea, who first planted their now-legendary Shea Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton area of the Willamette Valley in 1989. What began as grape growing for some of Oregon's most celebrated producers eventually evolved into their own label, with the Sheas bringing the same meticulous farming philosophy to their winemaking. Their approach centers on letting the vineyard speak — minimal intervention in the cellar allows the site's remarkable character to translate directly into the glass.

Tasting Notes

This 2022 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with an inviting and refined aromatics of red cherry, fresh strawberry, and a gentle earthiness that is distinctly Willamette Valley in character. On the palate, it's medium-bodied and graceful, with silky, well-integrated tannins and the bright, food-friendly acidity that defines great Oregon Pinot Noir. Flavors of red fruit are lifted by a subtle thread of spice and forest floor, giving the wine a quiet complexity that rewards attention. The finish is clean and persistently long, fading with elegance rather than force — a hallmark of a well-farmed site in a balanced vintage.

Producer

Shea Vineyard itself has become one of the most coveted addresses in the Willamette Valley, with fruit historically sought out by producers like Ken Wright, Beaux Frères, and Brick House. The estate spans several hundred acres in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, though only a portion is planted to vine, with the remainder left as forest — a buffer that contributes to the site's distinctive microclimate. The Sheas farm with careful attention to vine health and sustainable practices, and the estate label represents their purest expression of this exceptional piece of ground.

Terroir

Shea Vineyard sits within the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, a sub-appellation of the broader Willamette Valley recognized for its ancient marine sedimentary soils — primarily Willakenzie series, a shallow, well-drained silty loam derived from uplifted seabed deposits. These soils stress the vine just enough to concentrate flavor without sacrificing the region's signature freshness. The Yamhill-Carlton sits in a protected bowl west of the Chehalem Mountains, which shields it from the coldest Pacific air and creates a slightly warmer, more consistent ripening window than other parts of the Willamette Valley.

Food Pairings

The wine's bright acidity and red fruit character make it a natural partner for pan-seared duck breast finished with a Bing cherry and thyme reduction. It's equally at home alongside a classic mushroom risotto, where the wine's forest floor notes create a seamless conversation with earthy porcini. For something more casual, pull the cork with a charcuterie spread of cured salmon, pinot-friendly chèvre, and a handful of Castelvetrano olives — it's a relaxed but well-matched pairing for a weeknight pour at this level.