Dutton-Goldfield Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The Freestone Hill Vineyard is farmed by the Dutton family. Located on a south-facing hillside overlooking the tiny town of Freestone, the vineyard lies just inside the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley AVA. The wine throws a complex set of aromas leading with blackberry, violet and a coriander-like aroma we refer to as "Freestone Spice." The vineyard is planted to Dijon clones and is the epitome of what we expect from a cold-climate Pinot Noir vineyard.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Everything about this Pinot screams quality. Although it will only improve with time, it’s certainly enjoyable now for its raspberry, cherry, cola and oak flavors that will pair perfectly with a great steak. The Dijon clones that constitute the blend reacted perfectly to the cool vintage, yielding ripe fruit along with tart acidity and firm tannins.
-
Wine & Spirits
A sappy, warming Russian River pinot, this carries an inviting natural sweetness in its dark berry flavors, while the grip of its spicy tannins provides direction. It's powerful yet easy to drink, with a firmness to match the fat of a roast duck.
Other Vintages
2015-
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Wong
Wilfred
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the mainstays of the Dutton-Goldfield production. Using fruit from carefully chosen vineyards, Dan Goldfield produces wine that reflects the natural tendencies of the area: crisp, well-structured wines that display the complexity, balance and intensity that the partners believe are key to world-class wines.
Dutton-Goldfield Winery's first releases were a Dutton Ranch Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the 1998 vintage. Today Dan and Steve continue to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Dutton Ranch plantings, numerous vineyard-designated wines, as well as small lots of old vine Zinfandel and hillside Syrah. The Dutton-Goldfield wines are crafted using traditional techniques such as barrel and malolactic fermentation for the Chardonnay, and open top fermentation for the Pinot Noir.
The winery is a partnership of friends, colleagues, neighbors and families. The wines reflect this spectacular part of Northern California where the grapes are grown, the superb quality of fruit from perfectly placed and planted vineyards, and the work of an appreciative winemaker.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.