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1997 Pinot Noir
Freedom Hill Vineyard Release Date: 9/99 Retail Price $: 25.00 Availability: 520 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 east. 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 five days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 19 months in 35% new 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. Crop load: 2.7 tons/acre This Pinot noir complements richly flavored red meat entrees - prime rib, roast duck, steak, filet mignon - and will benefit from up to 10 years of bottle age. |
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Winemaker Notes
Intensity is easily the best word to describe Freedom Hill Pinot noirs - intense color, intense black cherry aromas flavors, and intense concentration. The tannin structure is big. These wines have the ability to age as long as 10 years. I love the fact that with all that intensity, the tannins soften dramatically after 12 months in the bottle and the fruit keeps getting bigger. This wine now has 12 months of bottle age and it is gorgeous.
Tasting Notes
Big ripe black cherries in the nose with sweet oak and a bit of stony earth. The mouth delivers the same very ripe black cherries and a generous layer of soft tannin and oak flavors. This is my favorite wine for steak.
Easily good for 10 years.