In the glass, the St. Innocent 2007 Villages Cuvée Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) is a clear, light ruby red with strawberry and fruit notes leading to hints of menthol. This is a very food friendly wine in terms of its acidity. Fruit flavors were a bit toned down, but it offered a nice long cherry finish that wasn't candied like other Oregon pinot noirs can be.

We paired the St. Innocent pinot noir with braised chicken thighs that were cooked in a single pot with white onions, fennel, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs. This delicious meal was served on top of a couple of slices of toasted French bread. A delightful meal that was well complemented by the St. Innocent's food friendly nature.

My only issue with this wine was how much it dropped off during the second night of tasting. The fruit seemed to have escaped and the wine overall became a bit flat. Even though it came up short on the second night, its performance when first opened and price point at $19 make it worth considering another bottle.

Related Links
St. Innocent Winemaker Notes
Decanterberry Tales Review
The Wine Commentator Review