St. Innocent White Rose Pinot Noir 2002

This is our second vintage from White Rose. Located on a ridge above and to the west of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, it is our only Red Hills of Dundee vineyard site. The vineyard is owned by Greg Sanders and was planted in the early 1980's. Our grapes come from a two-acre block at the base of the vineyard planted with the Pommard clone of Pinot noir. Although it is our highest altitude site, it is also one of our ripest. This is our smallest lot of Pinot noir and, in 2001, was our first to sell out. In 2002, our yields were 25% lower, resulting in an even greater concentration of flavor.

Its nose is full of white and red flowers and sweet red fruit that invites you back again and again. The flavors are layered and complex, covering your tongue with fruit and dark flowers. The 2002 is more complex and more expressive than the previous vintage. It reminds me of Barbaresco in a ripe year - like 1996. Match it with almost any red wine food, it would be very good with leg of lamb or seared fois gras. While very drinkable in its youth, I believe that this wine will develop over 8 years.