94 pts, Vinous
Like cracking open an ashen stone to find a bevy of autumnal spices, incense, dried citrus peels and sage, the 2021 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard makes itself known in the glass. This is silky and enveloping, nearly weighty in feel, matched by depths of ripe red and blue fruits that swirl across astream of tantalizing acidity. Sweet mineral tones form a crunchy sensation toward the close as the 2021 leaves the palate reeling with spicy tension, tapering off tannic yet fresh. If you choose to pop the 2021 today, make sure to give it a good decant to allow its aromatics to fully open.

93 pts, Wine Enthusiast
Balanced and packed with lively acidity, the Freedom Hill will revive the most jaded palate. Its aromas of blackberries, cherry blossoms, wet stones and seared steak are a meal, followed by a main course of dark raspberry, bay leaf, blood orange, cedar flavors and velvety tannins. Enjoy with grilled portobellos.

Vineyard

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

The de-stemmed grapes were fermented in 4-8 ton stainless steel and Burgundy oak fermenters with no SO2, allowing the fermentation to proceed naturally. After gentle pressing and settling, the wine aged in French oak barrels, 15% of which were new, for 16 months before bottling by gravity without fining.

Harvest

The “message in the bottle” for our 2021 Pinot noirs is density. Four short periods of high temperatures spaced through the summer of 2021 resulted in added stress in the vines and increased concentration in the wine. Thankfully, the harvest period was cool resulting in broad flavors, nicely balanced acidity and moderate alcohols.

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes

This dark ruby wine begins with rich dark cherry, sweet earth, cocoa, and hint of balsamic. Very broad and rich flavors of dark spice, dried Royal Anne cherries with lip smacking ripe tannins that fill the front of your palate. The red fruit flavors become sweeter as the wine moves to the back of your mouth with soft and juicy acidity and red floral perfume notes creating a lovely balance to its power. Always my choice for grilled red meats, the flavor profile suggests its usual match with chocolate may be a step up with this vintage. Easily age-worthy for up to 15 years, it is lovely now.