St Innocent Freedom Hill Chardonnay 2018
St Innocent Freedom Hill Chardonnay is complex and dense. Yellow florals and fruit aromas open the nose. Broad texturally across the medium-bodied and dry palate. Rich yellow peach, apricot and dried apple fruit flavours over a stoney minerality with hints of orange marmalade and nutmeg soon following. Viscosity lingers long into the finish.
100% Chardonnay from vines that were planted in 2006 and 2007 with Dijon clones 76 and 548 in well-draining, sedimentary clay loam. Freedom Hill Vineyard is in the foothills of the Coast Range, 10 miles southwest 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. The vineyard has a composition of old sedimentary soils, the vines have a southwest exposure at an elevation of 158–176 metres.
Whole cluster pressing of the grapes. After settling, the juice goes through barrel fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine complete malolactic fermentation naturally, then ages sur lees for 11 months entirely in used French oak barrels.
Ageing potential: up to 8 years