Medium garnet red color. PNP, split bottle over 3.5 hours. I'd been saving this bottle for a special occasion, and our anniversary fit the bill nicely. I can't really believe it had been five years since we last had a bottle, but time sure does fly. Well I had very high expections for this bottle based on previous experience with it and how the '07 St. Innocents have aged. This started rather slowly out of the gate and I was wondering if I'd missed the window for a few minutes. Silly me, as this just started blossoming after about 20 minutes in glass. And it just kept building and adding to the complexity through the next three hours as we reveled in our good fortune. Caveat Emptor: If you just drink this down, you will likely not get the same experience. This was one of those wines that hit on all cylinders for me. What a beguiling and seductive nose filled with pretty red fruits, more strawberry and raspberry, but still some cherry notes too, wonderful earthiness, more to underbrush and dried earth, dried flowers, baking spice, and fine ground tobacco. The palate is sublime and seamless, elegance in a glass, medium bodied, featherweight really, perfectly balanced with the same red berries showing, nice purity to the fruit and still the cherry notes showing here too; dried earth, truffle, sous bois, and later showing more damp earth and tobacco. Very long, feminine and seductive. All you could ever ask for in a pinot for my tastes. Adored it. This is the kind of wine you don't want any food to interfere with it - just savor every contemplative sip by itself. Clearly this has plenty of gas in the tank as this didn't really open for a half hour and then improved for a couple hours. I won't open my last one for a couple years anyway. 95+ to 96pts and my wife said is 97 too high - probably not.
Left in our cellar maybe a bit too long and selected it to pair with surf & turf as a 'whoops, better drink up' choice, but it was just as we remembered, didn't seem to be negatively impacted by its 8 years in cellar.
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Stellar right out of the gate on Pnp. Notes after 30 minute slow ox in glass. Same Burg funk like last bottle (notes on 11/29/15) along with complex aromas of damp earth, black tea, fresh mint and slate minerals. Fantastic! Palate: Beautiful and ethereal with red fruits, perfect, velvety tannins, inky density yet elegant (very cool dichotomy to be sure), and a long, super refined finish. This last bottle of mine garners 94 points (best of all tastes and bottles I've had). Talk about leaving on a high note!
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A bit of orange on the rim but still a vibrant red. Great nose and taste of a mellow blend dark cherries, cedar and spice box, nice medium mouthfeel, and a great finish. Paired well with simpler food. Vibrant and poised at first, it faded more quickly than I would have liked, with the fruit and cedar receding by the end of the meal. Based on the first glass, I'd say drink within 3 years, but based on the last glass, I'd say drink up now.
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P n P. Paired w seared Ahi. Alive n well. Nicely balanced Oregon Pinot. Min sludge at bottom of btl. Soft red fruit, some herbs n earth here too. No flaws, just a nice food friendly wine. It will be fun to see how the White rose in the Shea vineyards show.
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Cherry cough syrup nose with tar elements. Little of the cherry fruit on the palate with a lingering celery note. Nothing like I remember this wine to be. Perhaps I've kept this too long or this bottle is slightly off.
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Red fruit, berry, and earth with prominent green/woody notes that scream stem inclusion to me. The finish wasn't there, but otherwise a very enjoyable wine. It went well with salmon as one would expect. Pop and pour for what that is worth.
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Nose: Burgundy-like funk with earthy minerals, and juicy red fruits. Palate: Still good acid levels with cranberries and minerals. Wonderful balance, and just as good as the taste on 7/28/09. Much better than last bottle on 6/4/15, which was still a 91, but was not fully representative. Glad I have 2 more bottles left and hope they drink like this one. A very good bottle to review to be my 1500th tasting note.
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Nose: Loam and Burg funk with some floral cherry qualities and hints of coffee. Palate: Nice acidity with cherries, spices and some coffee on the finish. Has aged well but for my palate the bottle I had about 5 years ago was better. Still a solid showing. 91+ points.
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Chehalem Mountains AVA Tasting and After Party Wines (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Medium dark red color. PNP, aerated into glasses. Drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Still showing its stuffing; the nose and palate are lovely with damp leaves, exotic spice, dark red fruits, and florals. Seamless and gorgeous from the attack through to til the end. I never get tired of this. 93+pts.
The aromas and flavors are still quite primary to me, but everything is integrated and harmonious. Light and delicate with prominent acid, beautifully silken texture, and an afterglow of tannins emerging well into the long finish. Lovely now, but certain to reward further cellaring.
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California Pinot (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Dark red color, 2mm slightly bricked margin. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 3+ hours. This was another exceptional showing of this wine. Gorgeous, complex nose with deep earthiness, a touch of funk, a lovely perfume of florals, cinnamon and a mix of exotic spices, dark cherry and berry fruit, pine needle, and brown sugar. The palate is equally lovely with very pretty fruits of cherry and raspberry, elegant, deep and layered, balanced, medium bodied, earthy, mineral, and an array of spices lead into a long finish. Probably at or nearing peak, but should hold easily for 5+ years.
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Light ruby color, fantastic nose of herbs, rosemary, sage, thyme with red cherry. Light to medium body, vibrant acidity. Showing very, very well tonight. Such a great wine.
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Minneapolis Wine Club: Double Blind BYOB Event (Shari's House, Mpls, MN): Medium dark red color. Popped and slow-O for 2 hours, open from start. Drank 1 glass blind over 90+ minutes. Gorgeous nose, earth and funk, perfumed, very floral, cherry, raspberry. The palate shows depth and complexity, velvety mouth feel, cherry, raspberry, complex spices, earth, minerality, silky tannins. Elegant and well balanced with a long finish. This was the finest bottle to date (over a year and a half since the last one) and a good sign that this is really approaching its peak. My and group WOTN. 93+ to 94pts.
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Dark cherry with barnyard notes on the nose. The dark cherries follow though on the palate with some notes of tar and earth. Good fruit and acidity in balance. Lingers long enough in the palate to show the fruit well.
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Day 1: Celery, cranberry, strawberry and minerals. Not as concentrated as I remember. A bit thin on the palate and shorter finish. Not in the league of the White Rose 07 and this will not improve.
Day 2: Improvement with blueberries, strawberries, minerals and smoke. Much more balanced and nothing like day one. For sure needs a two plus hour decant.
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Was die Farbe betrifft zeigte sich der Justice Vineyard nicht wirklich dunkel, auch nicht außerordentlich hell, einfach ziemlich normal für einen Pinot Noir, und machte einen leicht getrüben Eindruck (welche vielleicht von Erschütterungen hervorgerufen wurden). Der Duft des Weines erschien mir sehr zivilisiert, rund oder vielleicht rund-kantig. Für mich zeigte er nicht so viel, aber etwas, vom schon oft erwähnten leicht stinkig-wilden „Oregon-Funk“. Anzeichen von wilden Blumen möchte ich nicht unterschlagen, doch eine erwähnenswerte Eleganz konnte der Wein für mich nicht ausdrücken. Auch die nasale Frucht war sehr ausgeglichen und balanciert. Von meiner Seite aus hatte ich keinerlei Beanstandungen was die Nase betrifft. Doch überbordende Begeisterung konnte sich auch nicht breitmachen. Der Geschmack erwies sich als sehr weich, etwas glatt - ohne jegliche Kontur verloren zu haben - und wiederum sehr ausgeglichen. Die klar und fein abgestimmte Fruchtigkeit des Weines war geprägt von hellen Beerenfrüchten und einem Hauch von Blaubeeren. Die Würzigkeit und mineralische Prägung war, wie schon angedeutet, mir ein wenig zu zivilisiert und geglättet. Die Säure erschien mir ein Tick zu schwach proportioniert. Insbesondere wenn man bedenkt, dass in 2007 relativ säurestarke Pinots in Oregon produziert wurden. Letztlich kam mir auch das neue Holz ein wenig zu präsent vor. Aber nicht das wir uns missverstehen: wirklich nur ein wenig und auch recht hintergründig. Der Justice Vineyard Pinot Noir war ein sanft nuancierter Wein mit ruhigem und ausgeglichenem Charakter dem man seine junge „Grundlage“ aufgrund der Glätte und schwächeren mineralischen Prägung wahrscheinlich anmerken konnte. Zusammengefasst mag sich der Wein jetzt ein wenig langweilig anhören, doch dem würde ich nicht zustimmen wollen. Für mich hatte er ohne zweifel seine Qualitäten. Auch wenn diese noch ein wenig adoleszent erschienen und nicht viel oregonesischen Charakter verspüren ließen. Absolut ein anständiger , vielleicht sogar sehr anständiger Pinot Noir aus Oregon.
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Very nice, structured aromas, expressing sweet earth, bitter cherries, tree bark, and a radish skin. Wonderful! Palate is light bodied, showing tart, lean red berries (cranberries primarily), tart sweet tannins, and a very slight earthy note. Finish is quite tart initially, then some sweet acid and very tight bitter red fruits, evolving to a primary wine of structure and tightness. I knew I was drinking this too young, but wanted to pop a 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir as I watched the Oregon Ducks play in the Sweet 16, since 2007 was the last time they made it to the Elite 8. Too bad it didn't help. This wine needs another 5 years, at least. Ideal drinking window is more like 10 years from now. Hopefully that doesn't mean Oregon needs to wait until 2023 to make it to the next round!
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This was drinking fantastically well the other evening. Very good nose of herb, cherry and forest floor. A bit more body than expected and a long finish.
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Good, likely better in a year or two. Needs a bit more integration, but the strengths are considerable, most notably a fabulous earthy/tobacco nose. Those notes carry over to the palate as well. Big for a 2007, with additional resolution of the tannins needed. Try again 2013 sometime.
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Dark red color. Pop and pour. Drank 2+ glasses over 2+hours. This has improved dramatically since I last had it a year ago. The nose is more effusive, nice perfume of florals, bright raspberries, briar, black cherry, sweet vanilla, a bit of cedar. The palate has become much more velvety and mouth coating, nice depth and weight here with consitent fruits, round, integrated tannins, sous bois, and some cedar on a long lively finish. This is not quite to the White Rose level yet, but it's getting closer. Drink or hold.
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Pop and pour. Pretty dark garnet color. Very strong mushroom nose, with some red fruit underneath, but took quite a bit of time in the glass to emerge. Flavors of cranberry and cherry, but not a lot of depth. Alcohol hits a bit hard at first.
Came back to it after a good hour in the glass and the aromas and flavors stayed true, but became more integrated. Still not a lot of depth however. Up to 89.
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- Ruby color with slow forming legs and aromas of blackberry and smokey. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Nice Pinot...my first St Innocent.
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Minneapolis Wine Club Does Domestic Pinots for the Masters (Becky's House): Dark red color. The nose is somewhat closed with hints of mint, cedar, earth, and dark red fruits. The palate is dense and concentrated with a nice back bone of tannins and acidity. This just isn't open for business the way it has been in the past. This needs some decanting and probably would benefit from some additional time in the cellar.
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Transparent crimson. Floral bouquet of strawberry and pomegranate. Mild spice, cola and sweet white chocolate on the nose. Delicate, yet lively on the tongue. Strawberry and pomegranate on the palate. A soft transition into the stony midpalate to a bright acidic finish. This wine is beautiful. Supposed to be an off vintage. I look forward to many more from St. Innocent.
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Classic herbacious nose, great acidity, light on the pallet. As the wine opened up in the glass the bing cherries come out along with the earthiness, though not as earthy as a true burgundy.
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Decanted for 30 minutes...great color and lots of fruit in the nose. Tannins were smooth, nice light finish. First bottle of St Innocent...quite good, highly recommend!
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St. Innocent Tasting: Not in the class of the 07 white rose. Spice, floral, stawberry and scorched earth. Medium finish which picks up some mineral notes.
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This was the best right now! Five years no clue but this is drinking well right now. This wine features smooth tannins, raspberry, and mineral, smoke and light oak. The finish was medium and full of flavor.
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I loves me some St Innocent and the Justice has become and instant favorite. Not sure what time will do to these but the 777 clone shows nice from the get go. Smokey and ripe aromatics. So tasty. Does need a little air time to collect itself. For an 07 this has great ripe fruit. Nice balnce of citrusy acidity. The texture makes this a nice drink that doesn't tire you out despite the big fruit. Not sure where this is long term but I am liking the prospects for the next 5 years.
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This is a good '07. The fruit leans toward mushroom, loam and smoky funk with a cherry element playing a secondary role. It is very well knit, together already, with nice mouth feel for a '07, but will certainly improve short term. The overall impression is great poise and elegance. Enjoyable at the table.
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crab apple fruit to the nose, but seemingly darker with hints of cinnamon. interesting savory note on the nose that may be lemon zest and pepper. great mouthfeel of neither too lush nor too lean. 34% new french hence some rubber tyre on the palate and the nose.
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So this is it, the top dog! My impression is that Mark Vlassick's (sp?) Saint Innocent Pinots are just one step below the greatest of some others in Willamette. However, and my experience drinking this wine affirms my view, I have never had one aged out. And I think he makes them to age. They have a solid fruit expression and an even hand with the oak. But this bottle (as others that I have had) mostly expresses young Willamette Pinot from the 2008 vintage. For $50 that is not saying allot. But we shall see how they go. They have the stuffing to definately go places.
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OR Pinot Event (Land Stewardship Project) (St. Paul, MN): Nose: Big loam and red fruit, leather, earth and floral hints. Palate: Big earth, acid and spice all competing for first chair yet the balance is unreal. Like the other offerings from Vlossak this is elegant and the finish is clean and lenghty. My WOTN. These St. Innocent wines are amazing and by far showed better than all of their worthy peers by other producers at the event.
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Pinot spice and great textural richness. A touch tight on the palate. Intense, with good acidity and excellent depth. I think it will develop wonderfully.
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7/14/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 96 Points
Medium garnet red color. PNP, split bottle over 3.5 hours. I'd been saving this bottle for a special occasion, and our anniversary fit the bill nicely. I can't really believe it had been five years since we last had a bottle, but time sure does fly. Well I had very high expections for this bottle based on previous experience with it and how the '07 St. Innocents have aged. This started rather slowly out of the gate and I was wondering if I'd missed the window for a few minutes. Silly me, as this just started blossoming after about 20 minutes in glass. And it just kept building and adding to the complexity through the next three hours as we reveled in our good fortune. Caveat Emptor: If you just drink this down, you will likely not get the same experience. This was one of those wines that hit on all cylinders for me. What a beguiling and seductive nose filled with pretty red fruits, more strawberry and raspberry, but still some cherry notes too, wonderful earthiness, more to underbrush and dried earth, dried flowers, baking spice, and fine ground tobacco. The palate is sublime and seamless, elegance in a glass, medium bodied, featherweight really, perfectly balanced with the same red berries showing, nice purity to the fruit and still the cherry notes showing here too; dried earth, truffle, sous bois, and later showing more damp earth and tobacco. Very long, feminine and seductive. All you could ever ask for in a pinot for my tastes. Adored it. This is the kind of wine you don't want any food to interfere with it - just savor every contemplative sip by itself. Clearly this has plenty of gas in the tank as this didn't really open for a half hour and then improved for a couple hours. I won't open my last one for a couple years anyway. 95+ to 96pts and my wife said is 97 too high - probably not.
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4/5/2020 - footloosiety Likes this wine: 92 Points
Left in our cellar maybe a bit too long and selected it to pair with surf & turf as a 'whoops, better drink up' choice, but it was just as we remembered, didn't seem to be negatively impacted by its 8 years in cellar.
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11/18/2018 - projectgoboy wrote:
Corked - bummer!
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9/26/2018 - Mattshank wrote: 94 Points
Stellar right out of the gate on Pnp. Notes after 30 minute slow ox in glass. Same Burg funk like last bottle (notes on 11/29/15) along with complex aromas of damp earth, black tea, fresh mint and slate minerals. Fantastic! Palate: Beautiful and ethereal with red fruits, perfect, velvety tannins, inky density yet elegant (very cool dichotomy to be sure), and a long, super refined finish. This last bottle of mine garners 94 points (best of all tastes and bottles I've had). Talk about leaving on a high note!
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7/20/2018 - Rich.Herbs Likes this wine:
Either past its drink date (fruit subdued, fades with aeration) or wait a few years and hope for a nice aged blend.
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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. Earth, spice and red fruit in wonderful balance. Very good right now.
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5/16/2018 - Rich.Herbs Likes this wine:
A bit of orange on the rim but still a vibrant red. Great nose and taste of a mellow blend dark cherries, cedar and spice box, nice medium mouthfeel, and a great finish. Paired well with simpler food. Vibrant and poised at first, it faded more quickly than I would have liked, with the fruit and cedar receding by the end of the meal. Based on the first glass, I'd say drink within 3 years, but based on the last glass, I'd say drink up now.
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3/21/2018 - IlonaN wrote: 90 Points
A good match for a classic beef bourguignon and a close contender next to a Chassagne Montrachet rouge 1er cru.
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2/17/2017 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 90 Points
P n P. Paired w seared Ahi. Alive n well. Nicely balanced Oregon Pinot. Min sludge at bottom of btl. Soft red fruit, some herbs n earth here too. No flaws, just a nice food friendly wine. It will be fun to see how the White rose in the Shea vineyards show.
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12/23/2016 - VinVet wrote: 89 Points
Cherry cough syrup nose with tar elements. Little of the cherry fruit on the palate with a lingering celery note. Nothing like I remember this wine to be. Perhaps I've kept this too long or this bottle is slightly off.
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1/29/2016 - jwebtx Likes this wine:
Red fruit, berry, and earth with prominent green/woody notes that scream stem inclusion to me. The finish wasn't there, but otherwise a very enjoyable wine. It went well with salmon as one would expect. Pop and pour for what that is worth.
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11/29/2015 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Nose: Burgundy-like funk with earthy minerals, and juicy red fruits. Palate: Still good acid levels with cranberries and minerals. Wonderful balance, and just as good as the taste on 7/28/09. Much better than last bottle on 6/4/15, which was still a 91, but was not fully representative. Glad I have 2 more bottles left and hope they drink like this one. A very good bottle to review to be my 1500th tasting note.
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6/4/2015 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Loam and Burg funk with some floral cherry qualities and hints of coffee. Palate: Nice acidity with cherries, spices and some coffee on the finish. Has aged well but for my palate the bottle I had about 5 years ago was better. Still a solid showing. 91+ points.
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2/21/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Chehalem Mountains AVA Tasting and After Party Wines (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Medium dark red color. PNP, aerated into glasses. Drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Still showing its stuffing; the nose and palate are lovely with damp leaves, exotic spice, dark red fruits, and florals. Seamless and gorgeous from the attack through to til the end. I never get tired of this. 93+pts.
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1/25/2015 - gotfunk Likes this wine:
The aromas and flavors are still quite primary to me, but everything is integrated and harmonious. Light and delicate with prominent acid, beautifully silken texture, and an afterglow of tannins emerging well into the long finish. Lovely now, but certain to reward further cellaring.
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9/18/2014 - subir Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light garnet color. Vivid nose of crushed cherry, raspberry, tarragon and forest floor. Medium body, good acidity. Great finish, 45 minutes.
This is an absolutely fantastic wine. I think this is the great drinking window for Vlossack's wines, 6-9 years.
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4/26/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
California Pinot (Gary's Place, Hudson, WI): Dark red color, 2mm slightly bricked margin. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 3+ hours. This was another exceptional showing of this wine. Gorgeous, complex nose with deep earthiness, a touch of funk, a lovely perfume of florals, cinnamon and a mix of exotic spices, dark cherry and berry fruit, pine needle, and brown sugar. The palate is equally lovely with very pretty fruits of cherry and raspberry, elegant, deep and layered, balanced, medium bodied, earthy, mineral, and an array of spices lead into a long finish. Probably at or nearing peak, but should hold easily for 5+ years.
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12/23/2013 - subir wrote: 95 Points
Light ruby color, fantastic nose of herbs, rosemary, sage, thyme with red cherry. Light to medium body, vibrant acidity. Showing very, very well tonight. Such a great wine.
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12/14/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club: Double Blind BYOB Event (Shari's House, Mpls, MN): Medium dark red color. Popped and slow-O for 2 hours, open from start. Drank 1 glass blind over 90+ minutes. Gorgeous nose, earth and funk, perfumed, very floral, cherry, raspberry. The palate shows depth and complexity, velvety mouth feel, cherry, raspberry, complex spices, earth, minerality, silky tannins. Elegant and well balanced with a long finish. This was the finest bottle to date (over a year and a half since the last one) and a good sign that this is really approaching its peak. My and group WOTN. 93+ to 94pts.
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9/15/2013 - VinVet wrote: 91 Points
Dark cherry with barnyard notes on the nose. The dark cherries follow though on the palate with some notes of tar and earth. Good fruit and acidity in balance. Lingers long enough in the palate to show the fruit well.
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7/13/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Day 1:
Celery, cranberry, strawberry and minerals. Not as concentrated as I remember. A bit thin on the palate and shorter finish. Not in the league of the White Rose 07 and this will not improve.
Day 2:
Improvement with blueberries, strawberries, minerals and smoke. Much more balanced and nothing like day one. For sure needs a two plus hour decant.
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5/17/2013 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 88 Points
Was die Farbe betrifft zeigte sich der Justice Vineyard nicht wirklich dunkel, auch nicht außerordentlich hell, einfach ziemlich normal für einen Pinot Noir, und machte einen leicht getrüben Eindruck (welche vielleicht von Erschütterungen hervorgerufen wurden). Der Duft des Weines erschien mir sehr zivilisiert, rund oder vielleicht rund-kantig. Für mich zeigte er nicht so viel, aber etwas, vom schon oft erwähnten leicht stinkig-wilden „Oregon-Funk“. Anzeichen von wilden Blumen möchte ich nicht unterschlagen, doch eine erwähnenswerte Eleganz konnte der Wein für mich nicht ausdrücken. Auch die nasale Frucht war sehr ausgeglichen und balanciert. Von meiner Seite aus hatte ich keinerlei Beanstandungen was die Nase betrifft. Doch überbordende Begeisterung konnte sich auch nicht breitmachen. Der Geschmack erwies sich als sehr weich, etwas glatt - ohne jegliche Kontur verloren zu haben - und wiederum sehr ausgeglichen. Die klar und fein abgestimmte Fruchtigkeit des Weines war geprägt von hellen Beerenfrüchten und einem Hauch von Blaubeeren. Die Würzigkeit und mineralische Prägung war, wie schon angedeutet, mir ein wenig zu zivilisiert und geglättet. Die Säure erschien mir ein Tick zu schwach proportioniert. Insbesondere wenn man bedenkt, dass in 2007 relativ säurestarke Pinots in Oregon produziert wurden. Letztlich kam mir auch das neue Holz ein wenig zu präsent vor. Aber nicht das wir uns missverstehen: wirklich nur ein wenig und auch recht hintergründig. Der Justice Vineyard Pinot Noir war ein sanft nuancierter Wein mit ruhigem und ausgeglichenem Charakter dem man seine junge „Grundlage“ aufgrund der Glätte und schwächeren mineralischen Prägung wahrscheinlich anmerken konnte. Zusammengefasst mag sich der Wein jetzt ein wenig langweilig anhören, doch dem würde ich nicht zustimmen wollen. Für mich hatte er ohne zweifel seine Qualitäten. Auch wenn diese noch ein wenig adoleszent erschienen und nicht viel oregonesischen Charakter verspüren ließen. Absolut ein anständiger , vielleicht sogar sehr anständiger Pinot Noir aus Oregon.
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3/29/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, structured aromas, expressing sweet earth, bitter cherries, tree bark, and a radish skin. Wonderful! Palate is light bodied, showing tart, lean red berries (cranberries primarily), tart sweet tannins, and a very slight earthy note. Finish is quite tart initially, then some sweet acid and very tight bitter red fruits, evolving to a primary wine of structure and tightness. I knew I was drinking this too young, but wanted to pop a 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir as I watched the Oregon Ducks play in the Sweet 16, since 2007 was the last time they made it to the Elite 8. Too bad it didn't help. This wine needs another 5 years, at least. Ideal drinking window is more like 10 years from now. Hopefully that doesn't mean Oregon needs to wait until 2023 to make it to the next round!
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10/21/2012 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Oh man this is good. More depth of fruit than most '07 Oregon Pinots I've had but still with great acidity. Red raspberries and cherries.
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9/7/2012 - subir wrote: 93 Points
This was drinking fantastically well the other evening. Very good nose of herb, cherry and forest floor. A bit more body than expected and a long finish.
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6/29/2012 - Sycamore wrote: 88 Points
Good, likely better in a year or two. Needs a bit more integration, but the strengths are considerable, most notably a fabulous earthy/tobacco nose. Those notes carry over to the palate as well. Big for a 2007, with additional resolution of the tannins needed. Try again 2013 sometime.
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4/4/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Dark red color. Pop and pour. Drank 2+ glasses over 2+hours. This has improved dramatically since I last had it a year ago. The nose is more effusive, nice perfume of florals, bright raspberries, briar, black cherry, sweet vanilla, a bit of cedar. The palate has become much more velvety and mouth coating, nice depth and weight here with consitent fruits, round, integrated tannins, sous bois, and some cedar on a long lively finish. This is not quite to the White Rose level yet, but it's getting closer. Drink or hold.
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10/13/2011 - KristyBPharmD wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour. Pretty dark garnet color. Very strong mushroom nose, with some red fruit underneath, but took quite a bit of time in the glass to emerge. Flavors of cranberry and cherry, but not a lot of depth. Alcohol hits a bit hard at first.
Came back to it after a good hour in the glass and the aromas and flavors stayed true, but became more integrated. Still not a lot of depth however. Up to 89.
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9/11/2011 - 11mcraig wrote: 91 Points
- Ruby color with slow forming legs and aromas of blackberry and smokey. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Nice Pinot...my first St Innocent.
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4/10/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club Does Domestic Pinots for the Masters (Becky's House): Dark red color. The nose is somewhat closed with hints of mint, cedar, earth, and dark red fruits. The palate is dense and concentrated with a nice back bone of tannins and acidity. This just isn't open for business the way it has been in the past. This needs some decanting and probably would benefit from some additional time in the cellar.
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1/12/2011 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Transparent crimson. Floral bouquet of strawberry and pomegranate. Mild spice, cola and sweet white chocolate on the nose. Delicate, yet lively on the tongue. Strawberry and pomegranate on the palate. A soft transition into the stony midpalate to a bright acidic finish. This wine is beautiful. Supposed to be an off vintage. I look forward to many more from St. Innocent.
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12/12/2010 - MondovinoCA wrote: 92 Points
Classic herbacious nose, great acidity, light on the pallet. As the wine opened up in the glass the bing cherries come out along with the earthiness, though not as earthy as a true burgundy.
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11/25/2010 - 11mcraig wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes...great color and lots of fruit in the nose. Tannins were smooth, nice light finish. First bottle of St Innocent...quite good, highly recommend!
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11/3/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Spice, a little funk, strawberry, floral and earth. Picks up some minerals on the finish and not as structured as the 08 Justice.
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11/1/2010 - McBenalds wrote: 89 Points
Bright, red fruit, nice acidity.
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10/20/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
St. Innocent Tasting: Not in the class of the 07 white rose. Spice, floral, stawberry and scorched earth. Medium finish which picks up some mineral notes.
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6/15/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
This was the best right now! Five years no clue but this is drinking well right now. This wine features smooth tannins, raspberry, and mineral, smoke and light oak. The finish was medium and full of flavor.
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3/2/2010 - Mister45 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking great now!
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2/16/2010 - jasonh wrote: 92 Points
I loves me some St Innocent and the Justice has become and instant favorite. Not sure what time will do to these but the 777 clone shows nice from the get go. Smokey and ripe aromatics. So tasty. Does need a little air time to collect itself. For an 07 this has great ripe fruit. Nice balnce of citrusy acidity. The texture makes this a nice drink that doesn't tire you out despite the big fruit. Not sure where this is long term but I am liking the prospects for the next 5 years.
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8/17/2009 - esb wrote: 90 Points
This is a good '07. The fruit leans toward mushroom, loam and smoky funk with a cherry element playing a secondary role. It is very well knit, together already, with nice mouth feel for a '07, but will certainly improve short term. The overall impression is great poise and elegance. Enjoyable at the table.
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8/4/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
crab apple fruit to the nose, but seemingly darker with hints of cinnamon. interesting savory note on the nose that may be lemon zest and pepper. great mouthfeel of neither too lush nor too lean. 34% new french hence some rubber tyre on the palate and the nose.
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8/4/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
So this is it, the top dog! My impression is that Mark Vlassick's (sp?) Saint Innocent Pinots are just one step below the greatest of some others in Willamette. However, and my experience drinking this wine affirms my view, I have never had one aged out. And I think he makes them to age. They have a solid fruit expression and an even hand with the oak. But this bottle (as others that I have had) mostly expresses young Willamette Pinot from the 2008 vintage. For $50 that is not saying allot. But we shall see how they go. They have the stuffing to definately go places.
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7/28/2009 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
OR Pinot Event (Land Stewardship Project) (St. Paul, MN): Nose: Big loam and red fruit, leather, earth and floral hints. Palate: Big earth, acid and spice all competing for first chair yet the balance is unreal. Like the other offerings from Vlossak this is elegant and the finish is clean and lenghty. My WOTN. These St. Innocent wines are amazing and by far showed better than all of their worthy peers by other producers at the event.
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7/28/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Pinot spice and great textural richness. A touch tight on the palate. Intense, with good acidity and excellent depth. I think it will develop wonderfully.
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7/27/2009 - Mister45 wrote: 92 Points
Very young at this stage. Very good though. Silky smooth,great fruit, fresh and pleasant to drink. Gonna get more soon!!
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