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2002 Pinot Noir
Seven Springs Vineyard Release Date: 9/2004 Retail Price: $ 30/bottle Availability: 931 cases Production Notes Seven Springs Vineyard, overlooking the fertile Willamette Valley from its position in the hills west of Salem, produced the Pinot noir grapes for this wine. The grapes were grown on a steep southeast slope, protected from the maritime winds by a fold in the hills. The vineyard blocks were planted in 1988 and 1992. The grapes were fermented in a small tank after two days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 18 months in 58% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. A small amount of sediment may accumulate during the aging process and is normal for wine produced in this manner. Harvest 10/9/02 Bottled June 2004 This Pinot noir complements foods with wild berry, earth, and spice flavors - gamebirds, venison, wild mushrooms - and will benefit from aging up to 12 years.
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Winemaker Notes
Beginning in 2001, our Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot noir changed. Before 2001, St. Innocent was the only winery to produce a Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot noir from both the original lower block of grapes (now called Anden)and the upper block which was planted in 1988. In 2001, the vineyard was legally divided into two separate properties. The upper block is still called Seven Springs. From what was one wine, there are now two different vineyard designate wines.
For the last two years, I have maintained that 2002 was not significantly different in quality from 2001. Our yields were very similar, between 2.0 and 2.3 tons per acre. At harvest the fruit seemed similarly mature and brix levels were almost identical. I was wrong. As I have released the Pinot noirs from 2002, each one has blown me away with the purity and complexity of their fruit. They all have wonderful balance, intensity, and length. This is clearly a spectacular vintage and Shea, Seven Springs, and Freedom Hill Pinot noirs are not to be missed.
Tasting notes
Seven Springs is the benchmark wine for St. Innocent. Its nose is dominated by sweet, wild, almost brambly fruits, and has significant hints of pumpkin pie spice, white pepper, and wild mushrooms. Initially the layered dark red flavors dominate, then spices and complex focused flavors follow into its long finish. This is wine for game and wild mushrooms - those wild and earthy flavors in the food bring out all the layers in this wine.
I suggest that you either drink Seven Springs when it is young (up to four years from vintage) or wait until it is at least eight years old. In the early years, you will enjoy the freshness of the fruit balanced with its rustic qualities. By waiting longer, aged flavors develop and Seven Springs will increase in both intensity and purity of its components. It will be worth the wait. Seven Springs Pinot noirs will continue developing for at least 12 years.