St Innocent Freedom Hill Pinot Noir

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’. St Innocent's Pinot noir comes from two blocks, one planted in 2004 with Pommard and Wädenswil and one planted in 2008 with 777.

Winemaker notes

Richly flavored entrees like hearty pasta dishes, steak, chops and chocolate match well with this dark-red fruited, earthy nuanced and solidly structured Pinot Noir.

2018

Burghound 90: This plays right on the edge of reduction and it's enough to blur the nuance of what are clearly ripe aromas of plum, dark berries and earth. The succulent, round and delicious middle weight flavors possess a suave and quite rich mid-palate before terminating in a sappy, lingering and balanced finale. This could use a bit more depth, but I like the delivery and potential.

Vinous 92: Vivid garnet. Boysenberry, cherry liqueur, exotic spice and floral scents are energized by a building mineral quality. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated red and blue fruit, spicecake, lavender pastille and licorice flavors that turn livelier with air. Gently chewy tannins frame the long, juicy finish, where the floral and spice notes return.