No contemporaneous notes. Double decant, back into bottle, served about 2-3 hours later. My 5th (of 5) and best bottle of this wine, purchased after tasting it with winemaker Mark V. in 2019. Oak and earth on the nose, wonderful balance and flavor profile on the palate - I can still taste it the next day as I write this note. (93-94).
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Tasted after 1 hour of air. Medium garnet color. Slight browning at the edge. Not much on the nose. Some tea on the mid palate lift. Sour stewed black cherries. Savory. Spice. Very nice.
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Decanted, 1 1/2 plus hours of air. Translucent ruby. Opulent red berry nose, some complexity, earth. Lovely, concentrated on the palate, lots of red fruit buttressed by gentle tannin. Very food friendly, restrained. My fourth of five bottles and the best one yet Contrary to some other notes that had me concerned about the development of this wine, it is what the winemaker set out to accomplish (I tasted this and the '15 Shea with with Mark V. several years ago) - an elegant Pinot that will age well and drink well with food. This is just entering its prime drinking window. Give it air or another year, or both. (91-92+).
This wine makes me sad, frankly. It's the second of three that I purchased (the first I consumed 2 1/2 years ago, which was memorably unmoving as well). I decanted this for three hours prior to consumption, drank about 3 glasses, and consumed the remaining 2 glasses the following day.
It's opaque, overly extracted and a bit hot. ('15 was a pretty hot vintage). On day one, it never did really open up -it remained aromatically muted and closed. The palate was hard and alcoholic. Day two , more complex fruit and cola aromas emerged, with a spicy oak note prevalent.
The bummer is that this has zero feminine qualities, none of the pretty Pinot Noir characteristics that were so beguiling in St Innocent wines of the 90s, particularly in the O'Connor vineyard wines ( now Zenith). I'm not even certain that I'd identify this as PN if served blind.
I'll wait to at least 2025 to open the last one. I'm not particularly hopeful.
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The bottle says 13.5%, but the wine presents as too hot for my taste, making the finish quite harsh. Nice spice and a variety of dark and red fruits on the nose and palate. It's a rich, fairly persistent wine. There is lovely, delicious and sweet fruit there, but the alcohol just gets in the way for some reason, overpowering the mid-palate and finish for me.
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Tasted after 2 hours of air. Tasted alongside 3 other St. Innocent wines. Some spicy fruit on the nose. Cola and spice. Still tight. Some crunchy red berry fruits. Very persistent on the finish. These St. Innocent wines just don't fade. Very nice.
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One plus hour decant. Ruby. Outstanding nose of earth, spice, fruit. Complex, dark fruits, soft tannin. This has developed nicely since I had this one year ago, at last year's Thanksgiving dinner. A very nice OR Pinot.
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Brilliant purple-tinged ruby with high optical density and fine specular reflectivity. Aromas are strong, with cherry, dirty and crushed leaves, smokey herbal notes, and some sweet tobacco. Nice complexity on the nose.
On the palate, a rich medium body with some sappy character, medium acidity, and present but rounded ripe tannins to provide a polished and broad texture. Flavours of red berries on the attack, with some tart and earthy notes. High intensity on entry. Fruit flavours stay firm, when over the midpalate, a baked fruit (a mix of blackberry and the raspberry and cherry from the frontend) and herb profile layers on top, while some liquorice and light leather hide in the background. The finish is nice, if only medium in length, with baked tart red fruits (almost but not quite candied) and pipe tobacco. Overall intensity is high and complexity ranges from medium to high.
This is really awesome wine. A fun PN here, with lots of showiness, and yet still clear elegance and style. Aged wonderfully at the moment, this has lots more to go, a solid drink or hold over the medium term. The depth found here goes beyond the average for OPN, and it seems to show everything that is expected. Just well-made, lovely, fun, and delicious single vineyard wine.
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Tasted after 1 hour of air. Still a bit tight. Needs time or more decanting. Some round red fruit but then bamm some fine grained tannins kick in to provide grip. Sour cherries? Some spice. Very nice effort. No rush on this.
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Big O-noir that's just starting to come around. Nothing subtle about this one, and yet, its not like one of those over the top C-noirs that go all "hit you over the head with a plank-y" on you and leave your tongue reeling. This is big and spicy but balanced. Lots of flavor. Very nice.
If you can find this in the low $30's its a really good deal.
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Medium dark ruby. Nose gives up wood chips and bright fruit that has a kick. Palate is about medium in body. Very lovely and delicious. Seamless tannins with a very smooth mouthfeel, but still held together. Vibrant fruit complexity. A finish with great presence.
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Solid, right down the fairway Oregon pinot noir, with good aromatics, nice color, the nose got better after being open an hour or so, and nice varietally correct taste with good concetration that lingered on my gums. fair QPR around $30. Good to go now, but probably would last in a cellar for some time.
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Eye: dark purple Nose: brooding, black and purple fruits with some spice Palate: rich lush dark fruits with spicy edge and hint of earth.
Overall this is quite lovely with some heavy material. It started to shine after sometime in the glass. Id say these can stay in a dark cool celler for 5 years easy but can be approached now with 2 hours in a decanter. Enjoy!
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Inspired by an outstand 2010 a few nights back I was set on trying a readily available one of these from the current release. Not sure this will hit the heights of the 94pt 2010 we had the other night but this is awfully promising for a riper, generally less appealing fleshier Oregon vintage than 2010. Alc at a mere 13.5% in this vintage is great! PnP in Burg glass and slow ox about 45 minutes prior to dinner. Served after 25 minutes in the frig. I like my reds sub 62 degrees. Semi translucent ruby red. Aromas of ripe berries and spice. The palate is a bit fleshy but shows promising earth and underbrush and spicy notes to go along with the ripe raspberry & cherry flavors. Terrific balance and perhaps worth acquiring a couple btls for down the line? Even in 2015. Generally, I prefer the so called "off vintages" in Oregon like '07, '11 and '13 but, this is excellent PN from anywhere! Well balanced, relatively weightless and elegant for 2015. 91pts+ Paid $30 on sale which a screaming deal. Normally closer to $40.
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7/4/2023 - D_RICH wrote: 93 Points
No contemporaneous notes. Double decant, back into bottle, served about 2-3 hours later. My 5th (of 5) and best bottle of this wine, purchased after tasting it with winemaker Mark V. in 2019. Oak and earth on the nose, wonderful balance and flavor profile on the palate - I can still taste it the next day as I write this note. (93-94).
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4/25/2023 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted after 1 hour of air. Medium garnet color. Slight browning at the edge. Not much on the nose. Some tea on the mid palate lift. Sour stewed black cherries. Savory. Spice. Very nice.
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6/12/2022 - D_RICH wrote: 92 Points
Decanted, 1 1/2 plus hours of air. Translucent ruby. Opulent red berry nose, some complexity, earth. Lovely, concentrated on the palate, lots of red fruit buttressed by gentle tannin. Very food friendly, restrained. My fourth of five bottles and the best one yet Contrary to some other notes that had me concerned about the development of this wine, it is what the winemaker set out to accomplish (I tasted this and the '15 Shea with with Mark V. several years ago) - an elegant Pinot that will age well and drink well with food. This is just entering its prime drinking window. Give it air or another year, or both. (91-92+).
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6/6/2022 - Deaddeadwine Does not like this wine:
This wine makes me sad, frankly. It's the second of three that I purchased (the first I consumed 2 1/2 years ago, which was memorably unmoving as well). I decanted this for three hours prior to consumption, drank about 3 glasses, and consumed the remaining 2 glasses the following day.
It's opaque, overly extracted and a bit hot. ('15 was a pretty hot vintage). On day one, it never did really open up -it remained aromatically muted and closed. The palate was hard and alcoholic. Day two , more complex fruit and cola aromas emerged, with a spicy oak note prevalent.
The bummer is that this has zero feminine qualities, none of the pretty Pinot Noir characteristics that were so beguiling in St Innocent wines of the 90s, particularly in the O'Connor vineyard wines ( now Zenith). I'm not even certain that I'd identify this as PN if served blind.
I'll wait to at least 2025 to open the last one. I'm not particularly hopeful.
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4/27/2022 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 89 Points
The bottle says 13.5%, but the wine presents as too hot for my taste, making the finish quite harsh. Nice spice and a variety of dark and red fruits on the nose and palate. It's a rich, fairly persistent wine. There is lovely, delicious and sweet fruit there, but the alcohol just gets in the way for some reason, overpowering the mid-palate and finish for me.
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4/4/2022 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted after 2 hours of air. Tasted alongside 3 other St. Innocent wines. Some spicy fruit on the nose. Cola and spice. Still tight. Some crunchy red berry fruits. Very persistent on the finish. These St. Innocent wines just don't fade. Very nice.
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1/20/2022 - gudetama Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and let breathe for about 3 hours. Really smooth tannins, classic SI pinot. Can't wait to see how this evolves in a couple more years.
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11/25/2021 - D_RICH wrote: 93 Points
One plus hour decant. Ruby. Outstanding nose of earth, spice, fruit. Complex, dark fruits, soft tannin. This has developed nicely since I had this one year ago, at last year's Thanksgiving dinner. A very nice OR Pinot.
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8/19/2021 - ajbergren wrote: 92 Points
Brilliant purple-tinged ruby with high optical density and fine specular reflectivity. Aromas are strong, with cherry, dirty and crushed leaves, smokey herbal notes, and some sweet tobacco. Nice complexity on the nose.
On the palate, a rich medium body with some sappy character, medium acidity, and present but rounded ripe tannins to provide a polished and broad texture. Flavours of red berries on the attack, with some tart and earthy notes. High intensity on entry. Fruit flavours stay firm, when over the midpalate, a baked fruit (a mix of blackberry and the raspberry and cherry from the frontend) and herb profile layers on top, while some liquorice and light leather hide in the background. The finish is nice, if only medium in length, with baked tart red fruits (almost but not quite candied) and pipe tobacco. Overall intensity is high and complexity ranges from medium to high.
This is really awesome wine. A fun PN here, with lots of showiness, and yet still clear elegance and style. Aged wonderfully at the moment, this has lots more to go, a solid drink or hold over the medium term. The depth found here goes beyond the average for OPN, and it seems to show everything that is expected. Just well-made, lovely, fun, and delicious single vineyard wine.
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3/21/2021 - Scutz wrote: 92 Points
silky and wonderful for yrs to come.
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11/26/2020 - D_RICH Likes this wine: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Dark ruby. Intense nose of crushed berries. Structured, red fruits. Some astringency. Smooth, balanced. Very nice. (91-92).
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10/1/2020 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted after 1 hour of air. Still a bit tight. Needs time or more decanting. Some round red fruit but then bamm some fine grained tannins kick in to provide grip. Sour cherries? Some spice. Very nice effort. No rush on this.
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8/23/2020 - Eroling wrote: 91 Points
Good with roast pork loin
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3/22/2020 - Eroling Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious with Iowa chops. Great nose and finish.
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12/5/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 90 Points
Big O-noir that's just starting to come around. Nothing subtle about this one, and yet, its not like one of those over the top C-noirs that go all "hit you over the head with a plank-y" on you and leave your tongue reeling. This is big and spicy but balanced. Lots of flavor. Very nice.
If you can find this in the low $30's its a really good deal.
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10/11/2019 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium dark ruby. Nose gives up wood chips and bright fruit that has a kick. Palate is about medium in body. Very lovely and delicious. Seamless tannins with a very smooth mouthfeel, but still held together. Vibrant fruit complexity. A finish with great presence.
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10/8/2019 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wrote this note on day 2. Round red berry fruit. Nice spicy tannins. Good balance. Long finish.
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5/31/2019 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: flawed
Sadly, this bottle was heavily corked.
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5/16/2019 - Wine G Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid, right down the fairway Oregon pinot noir, with good aromatics, nice color, the nose got better after being open an hour or so, and nice varietally correct taste with good concetration that lingered on my gums. fair QPR around $30. Good to go now, but probably would last in a cellar for some time.
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3/25/2019 - Rgentile wrote: 91 Points
Eye: dark purple
Nose: brooding, black and purple fruits with some spice
Palate: rich lush dark fruits with spicy edge and hint of earth.
Overall this is quite lovely with some heavy material. It started to shine after sometime in the glass. Id say these can stay in a dark cool celler for 5 years easy but can be approached now with 2 hours in a decanter. Enjoy!
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2/14/2019 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light barnyard nose with spice and hints of dark fruit
Smooth, nice texture, bitter cherry, traditional mouthfeel - as Burgundian as you get in the new world
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1/31/2019 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really opening up after a hour in the glass. Nice spicy notes that provide great complexity. Cherries on the nose. Long finish.
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10/17/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Inspired by an outstand 2010 a few nights back I was set on trying a readily available one of these from the current release. Not sure this will hit the heights of the 94pt 2010 we had the other night but this is awfully promising for a riper, generally less appealing fleshier Oregon vintage than 2010. Alc at a mere 13.5% in this vintage is great! PnP in Burg glass and slow ox about 45 minutes prior to dinner. Served after 25 minutes in the frig. I like my reds sub 62 degrees. Semi translucent ruby red. Aromas of ripe berries and spice. The palate is a bit fleshy but shows promising earth and underbrush and spicy notes to go along with the ripe raspberry & cherry flavors. Terrific balance and perhaps worth acquiring a couple btls for down the line? Even in 2015. Generally, I prefer the so called "off vintages" in Oregon like '07, '11 and '13 but, this is excellent PN from anywhere! Well balanced, relatively weightless and elegant for 2015. 91pts+ Paid $30 on sale which a screaming deal. Normally closer to $40.
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10/9/2018 - SaraCorky wrote: 90 Points
Mildly spicy and smoky. Needs a little time to round off the edges and then should be a very nice bottle.
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9/17/2018 - Mlermontov wrote:
chewy, red and black cherry, ripe core of spicy and ripe fruit, but balanced and brought to a long, spices and red fruit finish. excellent
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8/22/2018 - Joe Kane wrote:
this is 2015 vintage. High aromatics, ripe red fruit, pommegranate, stems, ripe raspberry, good palate, true OR pinot.
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8/22/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Lots of spice on the nose. I hate to say it, smells like Burgundy. Like a Beaune. Rounded supple palate. That is good stuff indeed.
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5/26/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Willamette Valley Weekend Visit; 5/26/2018-5/27/2018: Tasting at the winery. Meaty black fruit with good concentration. Bit of SO2 to start, quickly dissipated. Expanding finish. Best on finish.
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