Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This Pinot Noir is sourced from Freedom Hill Vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley AVA, the state’s largest AVA.
- Known for its cool climate, the valley benefits from the protection of the Cascade and Coast Range mountains, which create ideal conditions for growing world-class Pinot Noir.
- The vineyard is owned and managed by the Dusschee family.
- This bottling consists of only seven barrels of wine. It is age-worthy and will continue to develop over time.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Winemaking involves using 100% whole cluster grapes and undergoes élevage for 10 months in tight-grained, neutral French oak Burgundy barrels.
Tasting Notes: The wine is a rich, medium-dark red with youthful blue undertones and has the clarity of a crystal-clear ruby. The nose reveals depth, featuring ripe dark red and black berries, along with subtle spices, hints of violets, and ocean-influenced minerals. Overall, this wine displays more unmasked power than my other bottlings. On the palate, it offers flavors of just-ripe boysenberries and deep red berries, complemented by hints of dark chocolate, black tea, and cola. This Freedom Hill wine evolves continuously in the glass while maintaining a strong and steady presence beneath. The back-palate tannins are pleasing and lead to a long finish in this wild (as in “not tame”) beauty, and it is clear that this Pinot needs some time to develop.
PRESS
2022 – 98 Jeb Dunnuck | 94 Vinous | 93 Wine Advocate
2023 – 97 Jeb Dunnuck
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Kelley Fox Wines, established in 2007 in Oregon by Kelley Fox and her father, Gus Sterns, is a small winery known for its small-production, single-vineyard wines. The winery began with just over 100 cases of wine and crafts its wines from grapes it leases or sources from several top vineyards in Oregon, highlighting the diverse soils of the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas. The winery adheres to a natural winemaking philosophy, uses organic or biodynamic farming, and employs minimal intervention in the cellar. Today, the wines created by Kelley Fox are sought after, consistently receive high scores, and are highly praised by top wine reviewers.