WTN: 2002 St. Innocent 'Anden Vy' Pinot Noir

[Jenise]

My husband opened this and drank it over two nights. I took a sip on each occasion. Big, substantial wine, seemingly more extracted than usual for St. Innocent. Seems younger than any nine year old Oregon pinot I've ever had. Very taut on the first night, really needed food. Black cherry and plum with a bit of black currant thrown in, and tannins are substantial. Much better on the second night with more flesh and definition, voluptuous in a masculine kind of way by Oregon standards but not overweight. Now shows some old vine character with a little iodine, and tart skin character gives it zing while robbing it of a bit of soul. This wine's not yet at peak! Interesting, by comparison, to the 02 Seven Springs, which to my tastes based on two bottles tasted 18 and 6 months ago respectively has alredy peaked.

Someone help me remember: prior to 02, Anden was part of the Seven Springs vineyard but they were split, and the newer vines went with the SS?

My recollections of these two wines is opposite of yours Jenise. I had the Anden a couple years ago and if I recall correctly , thougth it was near/at peak and quite enjoyable. I still have 3-4 bottles of the 2002 Seven Springs and have no idea when they will mature but seem very closed now, or at least did 10-12 months ago when last consumed. I'll probably try to trade them to someone at MoCool this year as the style is to austere for me.

[Jenise]

Jim, hmmm.... The SS we opened 18 months ago was superb--but do understand that when I say at peak, I don't mean about to fall apart. Just, at it's zenith, it's very best possible showing, a place it could stay at for a few years. The bottle I shared at Bill Spohn's lunch group a few months ago, however, faded in the glass, was quite disappointing. The Anden, while very different in profile, seemed at about the place in life I remember the first SS being at, with possibly even more forward potential due to those tannins.

Btw, I purchased mine direct from the winery on release and they've been stored at 57-60F ever since. Not that yours haven't been; our difference may be that our last SS was one of those peculiarly flawed bottles with no off characteristics but seemingly ahead of its aging curve.

Thanks for the note. Just realized I still have 4 bottles but haven't tried since 2005.

Someone help me remember: prior to 02, Anden was part of the Seven Springs vineyard but they were split, and the newer vines went with the SS?

They were split after a divorce (now all back together but that is another story) and I think you are right. I do know there was a road right down the middle. IIRC the Anden was on the upper part of the split. The wines sure did turn out different from each other each year. My last taste of the 7 Springs was in 2008 with Dr Dietz. Here is my note

This wine is exceptional. I would guess that in 5 years it would clean up in this tasting. At first pass I got a lot of oak and and empty mid-palate. Much darker than the Belle Pente and much stronger tannins. But despite being a bit vacant on the mid-palate the wine still showed complexity and nice structure. At the end of the lunch the wine really started to blossom. The oak seemed to creep into the background and the complexity of the palate filled out. I loved the 02 Belle Pente but part of me found this wine the most interesting. Hold! for at least 3 years.

I seemed to think its best was yet to come.

Peace,

Jason

While on the topic of St. Innocent Anden Vineyard: I have a lone bottle of the '04 - does anyone have any idea when I might best drink this?

While on the topic of St. Innocent Anden Vineyard: I have a lone bottle of the '04 - does anyone have any idea when I might best drink this?

Here is my note from a year ago

1/6/2010 rated 90 points: Had over two days. The aromatics went from scorched earth, oak and spice, to a spicy brambly mix of red and black fruit. This is on the dark side. Brooding. The aromatics are almost too bold. On the first night the finish is blah. The fruit is ripe but not candied. This is not a fragile flower. The wine has a lot going on but right now it needs rich food to stand up to the tannin and acid. (90-91)

I set my next bottle at 2015. I guess it depends on how "fresh" you like your pinot but I do find the Anden rustic and sometimes austere.

J

I do know there was a road right down the middle. IIRC the Anden was on the upper part of the split.

I think I was wrong here. The 7 Springs was the upper part ... but they were the younger vines by the time of the split. I believe the Anden was later ripped out as well due to Phylloxera. These original Anden wines were on there own root stalks.

Jason

[Jenise]

I do know there was a road right down the middle. IIRC the Anden was on the upper part of the split.

I think I was wrong here. The 7 Springs was the upper part ... but they were the younger vines by the time of the split. I believe the Anden was later ripped out as well due to Phylloxera. These original Anden wines were on there own root stalks.

Jason

That's what I remember thinking. I discovered St. Innocent back with the '91 vintage. Went to that tasting room in Amityville run by a guy named Patrick, I think, and tasted through literally everything he had in the store. From all those just two wines wowed me, the St. Inno Seven Springs and a special bottle produced for an opera (La Boheme) by, oh man, the name escapes me. Owner's name is David, his last name is Germanic and the name of the winery, bottlings usually named after his daughters.... Crikey, my memory's not what it used to be! Anyway, I recall that when I learned about the split that I related the grapes from my first experience with St. Innocent were no longer the grapes called by the same name. Or something like that.

I still have a bottle each of the 02's, so I'll wait with you on those. Btw, when confirming cellar quantities yesterday, I discovered that I still have a lot of the 2000 and 2001 SS's. Also, the 2000 Brickhouse, I believe it was. I had forgotten all about them. Both were great young but neither seemed to wake up and show well at that usually magic eight-year spot.

Sounds like David Adelsheim. There still weren't that many wines back then but David was one of the very first.

I'll post a not on the 2000 SI Shea I had the other night.

J

[Jenise]

Sounds like David Adelsheim. There still weren't that many wines back then but David was one of the very first.

I'll post a not on the 2000 SI Shea I had the other night.

J

That's him, thanks! Have enjoyed his wines here and there since but not been wowed the way like I was with the La Boheme, in whatever way that was--I remember that it was more floral/spicy/feminine than the Innocent, but that's all I can tell you. Will look forward to your note on the Shea.