2013 Ken Wright Cellars, "Shea Vineyard" Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

This is not just any Shea Vineyard fruit; rather, it is predominantly Block #7 from Shea, arguably the most coveted row in the entire Shea vineyard. And with back-to-back iconic vintage, this 2013 Shea is one of the finest we've ever tasted.
    Shea is one of the most iconic Willamette Valley vineyards. Many acclaimed winemakers have long-term contracts to buy Shea fruit and produce their own "Shea" label. Few if any make a better Shea than Ken Wright Cellars.
    With his eye on only the finest fruit, "Block 7 is Ken's favorite block; it is a very important block to us" claimed Asa Sarver, Ken Wright's National & International Sales Manager.
    We met with Asa last week and tasted through the entire lineup of Ken Wright's 2013 Pinots. From the ancient marine sediments in Ken's Abbott Claim Vineyard Pinot, to the volcanic, rocky soil of Ken's Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot, each wine offered subtle yet distinct nuances of this delicious grape. However, the bottle that stole the show that day - though a difficult task indeed to pick only one winner - was Ken Wright's Shea Vineyard.
    Because he helped establish Shea Vineyards many years ago as a premier site, Ken has been able to get his pick of the most choice fruit. This row of coveted fruit has such character and importance in the Ken Wright bottling that the block number made it's way to the label. If you look at the lower left corner of the label, you will notice a red "7" on the lower left post.
     Whether it's the magic of Block #7, or the skill at which he crafts his wine, there is no denying that Ken Wright makes amazing Pinot Noir.