St. Innocent these days?

Has anyone been keeping track of St. Innocent? The Seven Springs pinot noirs in the late 90s and early 2000s were really something. I only recognize the Shea Vineyard in the current lineup and haven't had anything for 15 years or more. Am taking my only child to Portland for college soon and was considered a stop in at the tasting room off I-5.

No real knowledge here, basically the same as you. Was a regular SI buyer in late 90s and the early/mid 00s, think I've maybe tasted 2 bottles post 2010.

[Jenise]

Same here. No current knowledge.

Well, I visited St. Innocent in their new, new facility. Very nice interior and exterior, nothing at all like the near-warehouse space from 20 years ago. Tasting was $30, waived with a $75 purchase. Tried the 5 wines on offer plus a glass of their mA(c)thode champagnoise. The latter was unfortunately characterless, no yeasty flavors nor much fruit or minerality. Decent mousse, though. I'd take a randomly selected Limoux crA(c)mant for for half the $40 asking price (though the normal retail may be closer to $30).

There was no pinot gris available, the estate chardonnay from their new vineyard was fine but didn't stand out.

The vineyard sources have changed a lot from 20 years ago, but there was still a Momtazi that had nice volcanic aspects. $60. The Shea single-vineyard pinot noir is still a standout. Even young it integrates the new oak seamlessly and has a ton of length and elegance. $80 is not completely crazy, and I did get a few bottles of that. Also picked up the smoky 2020 Shea for $20, there's a large mark on the bottle to prevent resale to unsuspecting folks. Will see how it shows, they recommend a decant.

Overall, fairly pricey, but not completely out of line. I guess just not as exciting as it once was. The tasting room had a good number of folks there on a Sunday afternoon, many enjoying food that looked tasty.

Thanks for report. Is Mark Vlossak still making the wine? Not terrible pricing but there's lots of good OR for a bit less (Vincent, Goodfellow, etc)

Apparently, yes. He's been active since the 80s.

Walt, next time you're up that way, go visit Kelley Fox. My favorite OR estate nowadays.

[Jenise]

My thoughts on St. Innocent: once upon a time they were the standout in the area, where most of the others were making softer wines more similar to the fruit wines that had once been Oregon's standard. But then came all the new guys doing as well or better at about the same time St. Inno lost the Seven Springs vineyard which had been the cornerstone of their fame. Doesn't seem like the winery fully recovered from that loss. The very few wines I've had since the 2011 vintage have not been that engaging, especially their sparkling Freedom Hill chardonnay which I stupidly bought three bottles of untasted--fat, heavy, cloying.

Yeah, those Seven Springs (later Anden?) wines were amazing. I wonder who is bottling that these days. Jeff, I will take a look, will be there in November.

Personally, I have really enjoyed Patricia Green Cellars. While the former winemaker at Tori Morr is sadly deceased, her successors have maintained the quality. Quite different in style, more masculine than St. Innocent, but balanced and a ton of fun. And the "reserve" Willamette Valley is only $30.

My thoughts on St. Innocent: once upon a time they were the standout in the area, where most of the others were making softer wines more similar to the fruit wines that had once been Oregon's standard. But then came all the new guys doing as well or better at about the same time St. Inno lost the Seven Springs vineyard which had been the cornerstone of their fame. Doesn't seem like the winery fully recovered from that blow. The very few wines I've had since the 2011 vintage have not been that engaging, especially their sparkling Freedom Hill chardonnay--fat, heavy, cloying.

My feeling is that St Innocent was always sui generis as it is just south of Salem, well removed from the Eola-Amity Hills region where much of the action is. Yeah, the loss of Seven Springs was certainly a blow, but the arrival of DDO also signaled a change in Willamette Valley winemaking, raising the bar substantially.

Walt, Seven Springs is Evening Land these days (a project from CA money and Dominique Lafon IIRC).
So many excellent producers in Oregon - DDO, Patrica Green, Kelley Fox, Vincent, Goodfellow, 00.
Softens the blow of Burgundy pricing

[Jenise]

Yeah, those Seven Springs (later Anden?) wines were amazing. I wonder who is bottling that these days.

You may recall the story: owner died young of cancer. Her kids inherited the vineyard(s) and sold Seven Springs to a deep-pockets Hollywood producer type. Mark Vlossak was also a bidder, but the kids went for the money.