St. Innocent Freedom Hill Chardonnay 2020

This structured and expressive white wine originates from the United States, within the Willamette Valley AVA of Oregon. Sourced entirely from the acclaimed Freedom Hill Vineyard, the site is nestled in the foothills of the Coast Range, roughly 10 miles southwest of Salem. The vineyard features a southwest exposure at an elevation of 520 to 580 feet, sitting on ancient, well-drained sedimentary clay loam soils. Founded by pioneering winemaker Mark Vlossak, St. Innocent operates under a philosophy of minimal cellar intervention and site transparency. The specific microclimate at Freedom Hill benefits from warm air rising from the valley floor during the day to ripen the fruit, balanced by cool nightly ocean breezes that lock in essential natural acidity.

Wine Description

The 2020 St. Innocent Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay presents a lovely, pale yellow-gold appearance in the glass. Its sensory profile is wonderfully dense and fragrant, opening with an expressive bouquet of Granny Smith apple, Bosc pear, and Elberta peach skin, beautifully layered with notes of lily of the valley, baked apple, chamomile tea, and a touch of warm cinnamon. On the palate, the wine is medium-to-full-bodied, rich, and striking, showcasing a texturally complex core of ripe orchard fruit extracts and subtle sugar cookies that mimic a decadent fruit beurre blanc. It is characterized by its outstanding, nervous tension and a vibrant backbone of juicy acidity that balances the deep concentration, driving into an extended, lingering finish wrapped in ground spices, flinty minerality, and a light touch of vanilla cream.

This 100% Chardonnay is crafted from premium Dijon clones 76 and 548 planted in 2006 and 2007. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented using indigenous yeasts. The wine naturally completed malolactic fermentation and was matured sur lies (on its fine lees) for 11 months entirely in neutral, used French oak barrels to achieve a supple, creamy texture without masking the fruit beneath heavy wood flavor. The wine reached a well-balanced alcohol content (ABV) of 13.5%, with a total production of 816 cases. Reflecting the domain's core values, the vineyard blocks are managed under strict sustainable agricultural practices.