Bergstrom Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 2018

Bergstrom Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 2018 is a single-vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir bottled at 12.7% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 95 points from Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, who highlighted its powerful, floral-driven character and appealingly sweet dark fruit expression.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.7%  |  Origin: Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: Bergstrom Wines

Production & Heritage

Bergstrom Wines sources fruit from six different clonal blocks spanning 16 acres across the renowned Shea Vineyard, widely regarded as one of the most sought-after independent vineyard sites in the entire Willamette Valley. The 2018 vintage was produced from a blend of whole cluster and destemmed fruit, then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels with only 10% new wood — a restrained cooperage approach that lets the vineyard's voice come through clearly. Shea Vineyard's exceptional reputation draws multiple top Oregon producers, making Bergstrom's allocation from this site a benchmark for the vineyard's potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated red fruit liqueur and floral pastille before unfolding into incense, smoky minerality, and hints of Chinese five spice. Deeper layers reveal dried herbs, pepper, and a dusting of earthy complexity.

Taste: The entry is soft and expansive, carrying pliant black raspberry, boysenberry, and candied rose across the palate. At mid-palate, a darkly sweet core emerges with roasted coffee beans, orange oils, dried tobacco leaf, and toffee brittle. The structure builds richness through refined, well-knit tannins that frame the fruit without overwhelming it.

Finish: Long, floral-driven, and powerful, with a distinctive touch of salinity that lingers alongside roasted pecan and dusky spice. The tannins resolve with polish, leaving a lasting impression of concentration and site-specific minerality.

How to Drink Bergstrom Shea Vineyard

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature, around 60–64°F, in a large-bowled Burgundy glass that allows its complex aromatics to fully express themselves. Decanting for 30–45 minutes will help the whole-cluster elements integrate and the floral tones bloom. Given the depth and structure of the 2018 vintage, this bottling rewards patient, contemplative sipping on its own, though it pairs exceptionally well at the dinner table.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Oregon Pinot Noir collector a 95-point single-vineyard wine
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Shea Vineyard bottlings across multiple producers
• Pairing with a holiday duck or lamb course at a memorable dinner
• Cellaring as a benchmark example of the exceptional 2018 Willamette Valley vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bergstrom Shea Vineyard taste like? The dominant profile centers on expansive dark berry fruit — black raspberry, boysenberry, and black cherry — layered with floral notes, roasted coffee, tobacco leaf, and a distinctive savory salinity on the finish. It is concentrated and structured, with refined tannins and notable aromatic complexity.

How does Bergstrom Shea Vineyard compare to Archery Summit Shea Vineyard? Both producers source Pinot Noir from the same Shea Vineyard site, but Bergstrom's 2018 draws from six distinct clonal blocks and uses a blend of whole cluster and destemmed fruit aged in just 10% new French oak, producing a more florally expressive and mineral-driven wine. Archery Summit's Shea bottling from the same vintage tends toward a lusher, more cherry-and-earth-driven profile with a gravelly, tobacco-inflected character.

Is Bergstrom Shea Vineyard good for cellaring? Yes — the refined tannin structure, balanced acidity, and concentrated fruit core of the 2018 vintage give it strong aging potential, with a likely drinking window extending through the late 2020s and into the early 2030s. It also drinks well now with decanting.

Where is Bergstrom Shea Vineyard made? Bergstrom Wines produces this bottling from fruit grown at Shea Vineyard, located in the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA within Oregon's Willamette Valley. The vineyard is among the most celebrated independent sites in the region, supplying fruit to a select group of top producers.

What foods pair well with Bergstrom Shea Vineyard? Roasted duck breast with a cherry reduction complements the wine's dark fruit and spice. Herb-crusted rack of lamb echoes its earthy, herbal undertones. Grilled wild salmon with a mushroom jus plays well against the savory, mineral finish. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese highlights the toffee and nutty elements. Roasted beet salad with goat cheese mirrors the wine's balance of sweetness and acidity.

What sizes does Bergstrom Shea Vineyard come in? The Bergstrom Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir is released in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Bergstrom Shea Vineyard worth the price? This bottling positions firmly in the premium tier of Oregon single-vineyard Pinot Noir, and the 95-point Vinous score alongside fruit sourced from one of the Willamette Valley's most coveted vineyard sites supports its standing as a strong value within that category.

Why Bergstrom Shea Vineyard?

The 2018 vintage stands out for its combination of site prestige and critical validation — 95 points from Vinous is among the higher scores awarded to Shea Vineyard bottlings in this vintage. Bergstrom's access to six different clonal blocks across 16 acres of Shea gives the winemaking team unusual range and depth to work with from a single site, and the restrained use of just 10% new French oak ensures the vineyard character remains front and center. The whole-cluster component adds structural complexity and a floral lift that distinguishes this from many peers. For collectors seeking a definitive expression of one of Oregon's most important vineyards in an outstanding vintage, the Bergstrom Shea 2018 earns its place among the benchmarks.