It makes sense that one of the Northwest’s most famous sites for Pinot Noir helped Austrailian winemaker Heather Perkin, the Campbell family and Pike Road Wines to earn a rare double gold and one of the highest scores for any wine last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition. Until the Campbells created the Pike Road brand, fruit from Shea was dedicated to the Elk Cove program, which is now 100% estate grapes. Perkin’s discrete use of oak — 18% new French barrels for just 10 months — allow for aromas of Marionberry juice backed by layers of smoke and bacon fat. Gorgeously fruit, the flavor profile includes dusty rose petals, raspberry jam, black cherry and candied orange peels. Praise for this wine came from the panel of West Coast wine merchants who met at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River as part of the largest judging of international wine stage in Oregon.
Rating: 95 points / Double gold medal / Outstanding!
Production: 351 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
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