2005 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (1/19/2008)
Much more lively and interesting aromatics compared to the Anden. Tasty. Silky texture. Good acid and red fruit. With the food, this one pushed through stronger. Showed slighty more sweet fruit that made it cut. Bitter tannin on the finish. Still good length. Bitterness seems to be going away and on the second day it was gone. Lots of tannin. I am very excited about the fruit, acid and tannin on this wine. Not overly austere so can be enjoyed now … but mine will be going night night for a number of years. (92 pts.)
2005 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Anden - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (1/11/2008)
I tried this wine with a number of other Pinots and it showed uninspiring. I can’t say that Anden has been my favorite since the split but I expected more and thought I should try again next to a nice meal which is what it was meant for. Aromatics show sweet spice and lots of oak. Next to the Maresh this showed more perfume. Texture less silky/glycerol. Still very nice. More earthy. The wine does transform with food. The fruit shines through much better. On the second day I had it next to the 05 Varner and it showed much better. Could have been that it need to time to open up … or that it was being outshined by the Maresh. Time will tell. (88 pts.)
Cheers,
Jason