2014 Raptor Ridge, Pinot Noir, Shea Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Well worth your attention are these 2014 Raptor Ridge Pinots, especially good and well crafted is the 2014 Raptor Ridge Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir with it’s lush textures, pleasing dark fruits and lavish length. This latest set of wines are all interesting and elegantly balanced showing pure varietal character and terroir nuances, Scott Shull has created a lovely lineup here and his whites are also nice examples too, with his Pinot Gris and Gruner Veltliner 2015’s deserving of praise and his 2012 Estate and Reserve bottlings of Pinot Noir, which are late releases are showing extremely well and offer a bit of mature class, but I adore these 2014 wines with the “Barrel Select” and this Shea really deliver delectable flavors and layers of complexities. The 2014 Raptor Ridge Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir unveils itself slowly with black cherry, raspberry and plum fruits as well as a lavish mouth feel along with mineral notes, cinnamon, rose petals, dusty loam and a lengthy creaminess. Subtle wood notes, saline, lavender, tart currant and lingering earthy fruits add to the whole picture in this wine, it opens nicely with air and is beautifully dark garnet/ruby in the glass, though I’m sure it will only get better with another couple of years in bottle, as there is faint hints in the background of extra dimensions that should fully engage with time. This has plenty of substance and vibrancy to lift this to the next level, just give it time to come together, best from 2019 to 2024.
($40 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
