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1999 Chardonnay
Freedom Hill Vineyard, Dijon clone
Release Date: 11/2000
Retail Price $: 20.00
Availability: 186 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 ten months in 50% new French oak barrels.
Crop Level 2.7 tons/acre
Production 186 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
Seven years ago, we started replanting the 108 clone of Chardonnay with French Dijon clones. Experimental wines had been made in Oregon from these clones in the 1980's, and I believed they could produce wines with the beautiful fruit of California and the rich textures of Burgundy. Over the last seven years, all of the existing Chardonnay vines at Seven Springs and Freedom Hill Vineyards have been torn out or budded over to Dijon clone Chardonnay. I believe that this huge effort was well worth the energy and money 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.
Tasting Notes
The 1999 Chardonnay, Freedom Hill Vineyard has a nose of ripe apples, spice, and flint. Complex flavors of baked apple, pear, melon, and apple are layered with Freedom Hill's trademark minerality. Soft oak hints fill your mouth and linger throughout the wine's long finish. This wine has huge textures. The oak lies in the background, enhancing the texture and length. This wine loves rich food and will age over 8 years.
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