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2001 Pinot Noir
Freedom Hill Vineyard Release Date: 9/2003 Retail Price $30/ bottle Availability: 427 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 33% 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
For me, Freedom Hill Pinot noir is a wine with structure, depth, and richness. The site is quite warm in the day which develops rich skin tannins. Because of it proximity to Oregon Coast range, the vineyard is quite cool at night, maintaining good acidity in the fruit. This combination of tannin and acidity produces a Pinot noir with great structure. Capturing that intensity and revealing the nuances of the terroir (clay-like earthiness, dried flowers, dark spices) without excess tannins is the key to making great Freedom Hill.
Tasting Notes
I believe that the 2001 Freedom Hill Pinot noir is my best wine yet from this great vineyard. It has both great clarity of fruit and great concentration. The nose reveals an enchanting mixture of black cherries, a clay-like minerality, and both floral and spice nuances. Dark fruit and dried flowers dominate the mouth with its 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.