Pinot noir without a Safety Net
Shea East Hill 2004
Sam Tannahill and Chris Matzepink show their Skills

From the first scent, to the final hint on the palate, the Shea Wine Cellars East Hill Pinot noir 04 is Pinot without a net- Sam Tannahill and Chris Matzepink took the risk of allowing you to really taste the fickle Pinot grape in all its glory. It's so hard to make a rich yet balanced Pinot noir that shows the elusive, entrancing scents and flavors that make the wine unique. And to not "friendly it up" with toasty oak and big extracted sweetness to deflect attention from flaws, in case something goes wrong.

The Shea Wine Cellars East HIll Pinot noir 04 $37.76/$41.95 is a wine worth investing the time in cellaring - even young, it shows the hallmarks of a multi-layered, complex, nuanced Pinot of distinction. In a comparative tasting of 2004 Oregon Pinots last week, the East Hill showed best. It is classic Pinot, taken to the max, while never losing sight of the essence of the grape.
http://www.northwest-wine.com/shea-wine-cellars.html

In the nose, the classic scent of Pinot noir fruit is expressed as red raspberry, red cherry, red currant, marionberry, and elusive hints of violets, cinnamon, and fresh turned earth. In the mouth, the layers of flavors just keep on rollin'. After decanting and some time to air, balanced red and black fruit flavors mingle with a crisp acidity and focused, very fine tannins. Individual notes of different fruit, spice, and herbs dance in the mouth, changing constantly. There's a silky texture and a heady taste of roses intermingled with white raspberries, red raspberries, blackberry, and occasional hits of red and black cherry.

What is most impressive is the transparency of the flavors- there's no way that anything could be hidden here- the flavors are 100% Pinot fruit, no toasty oak barrel or highly extracted sweetness to deflect attention. This is really Pinot without a net - the winemakers have traversed the tightrope and produced a wine of balance, finesse, and classic quality.

All of the characteristics of the East Hill are muted by the wine's youth -- it really takes several hours after decanting to experience its potential. Tasting it young, there's a sense of having forced the wine open. Worth it, as we want to know what's there so we can make a decision about its quality. But the wine needs several years in the cellar before it will start strutting its stuff. Yet we seem to reach for this wine often -- even though we know it's too young, it's so intriguing, so quintessentially Pinot.

Shea's East Hill is the winery's first Pinot noir made from its vineyard's Dijon clone fruit. According to Dick Shea, the vineyard and winery ownery, Dijon clone Pinot noir grown in the Shea Vineyard seems to produce grapes that, when blended with other Shea fruit, balance and enhance the flavors of the fruity, forward, classic Pommard clone and the structured, blue fruit quality of the Wadenswil clone. Because this is the first release of the East Hill wine, the price is an introductory one, and a good value. Other 2004 Pinots made from the East Hill Dijon fruit include Bergstrom's Shea 2004 $49.95/$54.95 and JK Carriere's Shea 2004.

Shea's East Hill wine release signals the successful replanting of much of the vineyard after a phyloxera outbreak in 1996, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of Oregon's best Pinot noirs.
http://www.northwest-wine.com/shea-wine-cellars.html

Read more about the Dijon Clones and Shea's replanting here:
http://www.avalonwine.com/Shea-Wine-Cellars-2005.php

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Wine Club Announcements

Shipping Dates -- Because so many of you are on vacation, we've held off shipping the December Clubs until the first week of January. Let us know if you'd like a different arrangement.

Cold Weather Alert -- Also, if it's super cold where you are, we may hold your shipment until the danger of damage is past. The water in wine can freeze, forming a plug that pushes the cork out of the bottle. Even if it only pushes it out a bit, the wine is not going to age nearly as well, so be safe, let us cellar your wines for free until the weather moderates.

December Wine Club Newsletter
Get it here:
http://www.avalonwine.com/wine-club-newsletter-dec-05.pdf

Visiting Wineries - for Wine Club Members
It's not exactly the busiest time to visit wineries, nor is the weather the best, but if you are coming to the area, we're happy to hook you up with winemakers who are around town. One thing you get this time of year, lots of individual time with a winemaker who's not trying to pour samples for hundreds of people at an open house, or is working round the clock on harvest. January is a quiet time at the wineries, and if you'd like to visit, we can help you with appointments at the wineries that are open. Just call or email Marcus or Jean.

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Wine makes a great gift!
We'll put a hand written card with your personal message in each wine gift you order from Avalon and ship them out for you asap. If you have a list of recipients, call us or send us your list and you don't have to mess with the dang shopping cart. We'll do all the typing, you spend your valuable time choosing some wonderful wines for clients, friends, and family.

Northwest Wine Gift Packs and Samplers
http://www.northwest-wine.com/Gifts-Northwest-wine.html

Wine Club Memberships Keep Giving!
Every month your client or friend gets their shipment of wine from one of Avalon's wine clubs, they'll be reminded of your thoughtfulness and appreciation. Check out our four clubs here:
http://www.avalonwine.com/wineclubs.php

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Our most popular pages this week:

Magnums!
http://www.northwest-wine.com/Magnum-bottles-large-format.html

Highest Rated Pinot noirs
http://www.northwest-wine.com/Oregon-Pinot-Noir.html

Highest Rated NW Big Reds
http://www.northwest-wine.com/northwestwinemeritage.html

Newly Released NW Wines
http://www.northwest-wine.com/northwest-wine.html

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If we may help with an order, please let us know. We're available by phone at 541-752-7418 from 8AM Pacific time until 6PM Pacific time. Or you can call me at my direct line at 541-424-8004.

Thanks for your support -we appreciate your orders and your suggestions. Our customers always give us our best ideas!

Jean, Marcus, Chris, Kevin, and Wendy
541-752-7418

Avalon Wine
201 SW 2nd Street
Corvallis OR 97333
541-752-7418
www.avalonwine.com
store@avalonwine.com