2004 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard

Three 2004 Pinot Noirs were shown. The best of them is the 2004 Pinot Noir “Shea Vineyard”. The contrast with the 2005 version is striking and reflects how much variation there is from year to year in the Willamette Valley. This 2004 is considerably more evolved both in appearance and on the palate. It has an earthy component, darker, sweeter fruit, and is made in a forward style. This is a wine for drinking now and over the next 6-8 years. Owner/winemaker Mark Vlossak operates his winery out of an industrial park in Salem. He sources from some of the finest sites in the Willamette Valley, turning out flavorful Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, selling them at remarkably fair prices. Check out St.-Innocent’s website for Vlossak’s harvest reports to get the lowdown on recent vintages and to see how a skilled winemaker adapts to the varied conditions presented by the region’s fickle weather. Tel. (503) 378-1526; www.stinnocentwine.com. Also tasted: 2005 Pinot Gris “Vitae Springs Vineyard (91), 2005 Pinot Gris “Shea Vineyard” (92), 2005 Pinot Blanc “Freedom Hill Vineyard (90), 2005 Chardonnay “Freedom Hill Vineyard (92), 2005 Chardonnay “Anden Vineyard” (91)