2017 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 375ml
92 Points – Cellar Selection (Wine Enthusiast)
Lovely aromatics send up scents of sandalwood and hints of pomegranate fruit. It hits the palate with astringent tannins and light flavors of raspberry, suggesting that another couple of years in the bottle will serve to open it up further. Drink 2020 to 2030.
AVA: Willamette Valley
LOCATION: Burnell Rd.
ELEVATION: 500’
SOIL TYPE: Bellpine
YEAR PLANTED: 2000
CLONAL MATERIAL: Dijon Clone 115, Pommard, Coury Clone & Wadensvil
VINEYARD SIZE: 85-acre vineyard, ~11-acre PGC block
VINIFICATION: Various: fermentations ranging from 0-100% in both 1.75- and 2.5-top open-top fermenters
PICKING DATE: 9/27-10/06/17
TONS/ACRE: Approx. 3.50
OWNERS: Dan and Helen Dusschee
PRODUCTION: 710 cases bottled
This bottling is comprised of 80% Dijon 115 across all three blocks with all wines containing 40-50% whole clusters in the fermentation. About 15% comes from the older vine Wadensvil which was fermented with about 60% whole clusters. The Coury and Pommard round out the blend. This wine was in barrel for a little less than a year in around 20% new oak and a combination of once-five times used barrels. It has the deep pigmentation, floral aromatics, intense mid-palate sweetness with structured finishing tannins. It is funny to us that this is our “regular” bottling of Freedom Hill simply due to the existence of our small clonal bottlings. By any measure this is a terrific, site-specific Pinot Noir from one of Oregon’s classic and historical vineyards. This has incredibly well-farmed material that provides the wine with great intensity and balance. This is far from “regular” but nonetheless here at PGC that is what it is although we have taken to calling it “Freedom Hill Classic!”. Bang for the buck/Quality-to-price ratio/however you want to term it, this wine is off the charts. This has so much to it that it will drink well almost immediately, but the upside is that it will drink beautifully a decade from now.
