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2000 Pinot Noir
Freedom Hill Vineyard Release Date: 9/2002 Retail Price $30/ bottle Availability: 696 cases Production Notes Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the foothills of the coast range 10 miles southwest of Salem, Oregon. The site is protected from strong coastal winds by hills to the west. It has a southeast exposure at an elevation of 390' and benefits from heat rising off the valley floor. The Wadenswil block was planted in 1982 and the Pommard Lyre block in 1988 on a well drained silty clay loam. The grapes were fermented in a small tank after one day of cold maceration. The wine aged for 19 months in 32% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. A small amount of sediment may accumulate during the aging process and is normal for wine produced in this manner. |
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Winemaker Notes
I am very proud of this wine. For me, Freedom Hill Pinot noir is a wine that has intense structure, depth, and richness. Capturing that intensity and revealing the nuances of the terroir (clay-like earthiness, dried flowers, dark spices) without excess tannins was a significant challenge.
Fermentation allows the winemaker to extract the raw materials of the grape. In this case, the details of exactly how the wine ferments and is pressed off the skins held the secret to extracting just the right amount of flavor and tannins. After seven years of experimentation and small changes, the 2000 vintage went into barrels with a perfect balance of fruit and skin tannins. It is still a big wine: now it has beauty as well.
Tasting Notes
The nose reveals an enchanting mixture of black cherries, pepper, cassis, and dark berries. Dark fruit and dried flowers dominate the mouth with a clay-like earthiness adding texture to the viscosity that fills your mouth. Expect steady evolution of the fruit and softening of the tannins with up to 12 years of bottle age. Perfect for that Porterhouse or T-bone. Open at least one hour before drinking.