The 2017 Freedom Hill Pinot noir is lovely and bright with ruby?red color. The nose has dark, concentrated cherry aromas with
earth, peat, and white pepper notes. Big ripe tannins, dense, dark
fruits, loads of earthy spices and the juicy acidity that is the
hallmark of the 2017 vintage. The richness on the palate carries
into a long finish full of fruit and sweet tannin. This has always
been the wine for big flavored dishes. Enjoy with roast leg of
lamb, New York steaks, and roasted vegetables.
Vineyard Notes
Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the foothills of the Coast Range, 10 miles SW of Salem, Oregon. During the day warm air rises from the valley floor ripening the skins. At night, cool ocean breezes act to retain acidity. Planted on old sedimentary soils, the vines have a SW exposure at an elevation of 520’ to 580’. Our Pinot noir comes from two blocks, one planted in 2004 with Pommard and Wädenswil and one planted in 2008 with 777.
Production Notes
The de-stemmed grapes were fermented in 4-8 ton stainless steel
fermenters with no SO2, allowing the fermentations to proceed
naturally. After gentle pressing and settling, the wine aged in
French oak barrels, 28% of which were new, for 16 months
before bottling by gravity without fining
Winemaker Notes
Vintage Notes: 2017, after three very warm and early harvests, brought a welcome change with cooler temperatures during the summer and a normal harvest window. We began picking on September 15th for sparkling wine. After a week with temperatures in the 70’s, we harvested Chardonnay between 9/22 and 9/29. All of the Pinot noir was picked in a two-week window beginning on 9/26 with continued pleasant temperatures and no rain. The wines have more aromatic and flavor nuances with balanced acidity and moderate alcohols.
Food Pairing Notes
Rich, full flavored entrees like New York steaks, leg of lamb and roasted vegetables.
