2003 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley)

Although I will never like the 2003s from St. I as much as their 2002s, I thought this bottle was beginning to show what I have liked about their wines in the past. The burly fruit of its youth has exited center stage, and a more restrained version has come on. It's soft, velvety, and shows earth, cherry, and strawberry fruit. Very good wine now, and it still can age for many more years. Matter of fact, I would leave this wine alone for another 2-3 years before revisiting. I think the patience will be rewarded.