Philip Shaw Pinot Noir No. 8

(Mich and Bo, with Grace, Mandy, Suyi) What a surprising drop! Clear ruby in the glass, with a gentle nose of maraschino cherries, raspberries, candy gumdrops, there is also some raunchy leather and wet earth. While expecting a similarly fruit-driven palate, this turns out to be agreeably savoury - bits of stewed mushroom and brand's chicken essence. Quite a silky clean, complete and focused wine, if a modest one, this has some old-world, almost burgundian complexity and maturity begining to …

Beautiful vibrant red colour. Cherry nose and a few other things that I can't quite describe. Mouthfeel is totally balanced. Silky smooth, with some very fine tannin for structure. Feels like the perfect time to have opened this. (20 views)

Dinner with Philip Shaw (Orange, Australia) : This had matured quite a bit since the last time I had a bottle. Very nice. Rather more substantial than the 2007 I thought. Nose had an earthiness to it, with a touch of grassy herbs sprinkled over ripe cherries and maraschinos, all undergirded with a nice savoury depth. I liked the palate too. Clean and well balanced, with plenty of depth in its dark cherries, spice and savoury earth characters. Well-integrated too. …

Although the nose is subdued, this is a well balanced wine with a long finish with just a hint of tannin.

2008 Pinot Days Grand Tasting (Fort Mason, San Francisco) : Meaty and charcoal nose; tart cherry, mineral and charcoal palate; medium-plus finish 90+ pts.

Drank with the family in a lovely rented apartment in San Remo while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. Orangey red colour. Nose was slightly muted at first, maybe suffering from bottle shock. Classic Pinot bouquet emerged with time, with high tone, candied cherry / cherry drops aromas dominating, and an underlayer of more savoury tones, like earth and mushroom and some white pepper and vanilla rounding it off. Some perfumy flowers emerged after an hour or so. Sweet and clearly new …