Shea Wine Cellars

I haven’t tasted wines from this address for several years, but now find myself impressed by how openly fruity and easily enjoyable this Pinot proves to be. It is very soft and shows a lot of natural fruit sweetness, with quite minimal oak and very soft texture due to the virtual absence of oak tannins. It is ample in body, and yet that wasn’t achieved by overly ripening the fruit or over-extracting the grapes during vinification. Its juicy, sweet character seems entirely natural rather than confected, making this a fine solo-sipper for those who prefer to enjoy it that way, but also a very promising partner for poultry, white meats or seafood preparations with a bit of spice. How do you argue with a wine that just tastes great—easily—the second the cork is pulled and the wine hits your palate? 93 Michael Franz

This wine's nine months in French oak, 30% new and 70% neutral, is a winning combination. A pronounced raspberry-pie aroma is joined by notes of sage and orange zest. There's a meatiness to the palate, with tart cherries blending with fennel and Italian sausage notes. The acidity is zippy and the mouthfeel crisp.