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2001 Chardonnay
Freedom Hill Vineyard, Dijon clone
Release Date: 3/1/2003
Retail Price $: 18.00
Availability: 143 cases
Production Notes
Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the foothills of the coast range 10 miles southwest of Salem, Oregon. The Chardonnay block has a southeast exposure at an elevation of 350' and benefits from heat rising off the valley floor. Hills to the east protect the vines from strong coastal winds. Planted in 1982 on well drained silty clay loam, the Chardonnay vines were grafted to Dijon clone 76 in 1998. Dijon clones of Chardonnay ripen fully in Oregon's cool climate and are picked at the same time as Pinot noir.
The grapes were whole cluster pressed. After settling, the juice was barrel fermented using three yeasts. The wine finished malolactic fermentation and was aged sur lees for thirteen months in 33% new French oak barrels.
Crop Level 2.6 tons/ acre
Production 143 cases
This Dijon clone Chardonnay's flavors and texture will complement foods with rich flavors. It will benefit from up to 8 years of bottle age.
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Winemaker Notes
Eight years ago, we began replanting the 108 clone of Chardonnay originally planted in Oregon with French 'Dijon' clones. Experimental wines had been made in Oregon from these clones in the 1980's. I believed they would produce wines with fully ripened fruit and also have the rich textures found in white Burgundies. Since 1999. all of St. Innocent's Chardonnay vines are producing fruit exclusively from the Dijon clones. I am now convinced that the results were worth the huge effort it required.
The Freedom Hill Dijon clone Chardonnays are Mersault-like: darker fruit with a stoney minerality and rich textures in the mouth. The Seven Springs Dijon clone Chardonnays have a Puligny-like charactor: sweet fruit and spice with great length. They are both a huge qualitative improvement over the old clones.
Tasting Notes
The mineral aromas remind me of granite and marble. Intermixed are aromas of pear, citrus, and melon. It fills your mouth with amazing viscosity-an almost oily texture. The fruit components are deeper, almost visceral. This is one of my most food friendly wines. I will frequently open it along with several of my Pinot noirs at dinner with visiting customers and it is always the first bottle empty. I am very aware that Chardonnay is not the wine that many serious wine people buy for enjoyment. However, if you try it, you may be amazed. This is simply a great food wine.
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