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2005 Pinot Noir, Seven Springs Vineyard, special selection
Futures Price: $ 300 per 6 bottles 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 two Burgundy oak fermenters after two days of cold maceration. The wine aged French oak barrels for 19 months before bottling. The Cuve de chene, special selection was selected from the four best barrels out of a total of 47. This unique cuvée represents the most rigorous selection of grapes and wines in each vintage. Only 96 cases are produced and this wine is available only as a future. This Pinot noir complements foods with wild berry, earth, and spice flavors - gamebirds, venison, wild mushrooms - and will benefit from aging up to 14 years.
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Winemaker Notes
In general, 'futures' are a winery's normal wines, sold prior to their release, and usually at a discounted price. They are the identical wines to those sold to consumers at a later date.
Beinning in 1998 I discontinued our tradional 'futures' program and decided to begin offering an alternative to our customers. St. Innocent 'futures' are a limited and unique bottling of only the best barrels from the best wine produced in a specific vintage. They are only sold as 'futures' and never offered at a later date. Only two to four barrels are selected from the 30 or more barrels of one single vineyard offering and bottled as a 'special selection'. These wines represent the best wine I can produce in a specific vintage. The maximum amount produced is four barrels, or 96 cases.
In 2002, our 'futures' program became even more unique. We purchased two French oak, Burgundy style fermenters, one produced by the Vicard cooperage, the other by Taransaud. Half of the 2002 Pinot noir, Anden Vineyard was fermented in the Vicard tank, the other half in a stainless steel tank. In my 2002 harvest report, I described the fermentation aromas in the wood tank as the best I have ever smelled. We bottled the 2002 Pinot noir Anden Vineyard, Special Selection from the best two barrels of wine(out of 16) fermented in the Vicard tank. We added the designation, "cuve de chene" ("tank of oak"), to indicated that the wine was fermented in a wooden fermenter.
I am convinced that grapes fermented in wooden Burgundy fermenters capture more of the nuances of Pinot noir and produce more complex wines. Each year, I now select the two best lots of fruit and ferment them in one of the Burgundy wood fermenters. The Special Selections come from those lots.
In 2005, the Pinot noir from Seven Springs Vineyard was so exceptional that I decided to make only one 'special selection' and filled both wood fermenters with Seven Springs Pinot noir fruit. This future offering is selected from the four best barrels out of 47 produced. This wine reflects the best grapes picked in 2005, the best fermentation, and the best four barrels from that lot.
Futures are being offered beginning Thanksgiving weekend 2006. A maximum of 96 cases are available for sale. Sold in six bottle lots, the finished wine will be available for pick-up (or shipped) in September 2007.