2019 St. Innocent Pinot Noir 'Temperance Hill Vineyard'

100% organic Pinot Noir  from this vineyard site ten miles NW of Salem, Oregon. 100% destemmed, fermented in 4-8 ton stainless steel and Burgundy oak fermenters with no SO2, allowing the fermentation to proceed naturally. After gentle pressing and settling, the wine aged in French oak barrels, 22% of which were new, for 16 months before bottling by gravity without fining. 13.5% alcohol.  The nose is a lovely mixture of black cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry scent. Allspice and Vietnamese cinnamon seamlessly intertwine with hints of mace. The mouth surprises you with the fullness of spicy dark red fruit and lush, juicy acidity that slowly morphs into dried cherry and allspice flavors. It is very drinkable now and will develop over the next decade.

95 points, Wine Enthusiast. “This wine is a testament to what happens when you match fruit from a great vineyard with a skilled winemaking hand. Raspberries, lilacs and blueberry honey form an aromatic Justice League, followed by similar flavors of raspberries, cacao nibs and lavender tea. The wine’s acidity is still kicking, which is what you will be doing to yourself if you don’t buy some.”