Walter Scott Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard 2024
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The Land
Freedom Hill was established in 1981 by Dan and Helen Dusschee on the southeast slopes of an ancient uplifted seabed in Polk County, Oregon. The Bellpine loam soils — marine sedimentary, well-draining, low in organic matter — produce Pinot Noir of distinctive structure and concentration. Sheltered from the Van Duzer winds by its position on the eastern side of the Eola-Amity Hills, Freedom Hill runs warmer than most of its neighbors, building tannin and depth alongside the AVA's characteristic acidity. Dustin Dusschee, the second generation, now farms organically without irrigation. Walter Scott works two Pinot Noir blocks here, planted to Dijon 76 and 95 clones, vine ages 10 to 30 years.
The Wine
100% Pinot Noir from two Freedom Hill blocks. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, 15% whole cluster, with pump-over and gentle pigeage during fermentation. Aged 15 months in 35% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. Freedom Hill is the most structured, power-driven expression in the Walter Scott lineup: dark cherry, iron, smoked meat, graphite, and dried herb, with tannins that are present and purposeful. Ken picks on pH rather than sugar here, farming for low yields and fruit with physiological completeness at moderate alcohol. The result is a Pinot Noir built for the cellar. Five to eight years from now it will be a different, better wine.
The People
Walter Scott was founded in 2008 by Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon. Ken's earlier career at St. Innocent gave him years of experience with Freedom Hill fruit before he ever put his own name on a bottle; a later formative stint alongside Dominique Lafon at Evening Land deepened his understanding of site-specific Pinot Noir. He has worked with Freedom Hill under the Walter Scott label since 2012. The relationship with the Dusschee family is long and built on shared standards: careful farming, low yields, and a belief that the site will do the talking if you stay out of its way. Imported by Grand Cru Selections.
Food Pairing
Freedom Hill's structure and weight want substantial, savory food: braised short ribs with root vegetables, roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, venison stew with juniper and thyme, or a hard aged sheep's milk cheese. Thirty minutes of air before pouring, or better yet, three to five more years in the cellar.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
The Willamette Valley, nestled in Oregon, is a region renowned for its cool-climate wines, particularly its Pinot Noir. While Pinot Noir is its most celebrated variety, the valley is also home to other cool climate varieties like Chardonnay and Riesling. The region's unique terroir, characterized by rolling hills, volcanic and sedimentary soils, and a maritime climate influence, contributes to the elegance and complexity of its wines. The wines of the Willamette Valley offer a delicate balance between fruit, acidity, and earthiness. Its increasingly growing reputation places it among the world’s top regions for Pinot Noir.
Oregon - Willamette Valley
Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned, notoriously difficult-to-grow, low-yielding grape that finds its ancestral home in Burgundy, France, where it produces some of the world's most elegant and nuanced wines. While Burgundy remains its spiritual heartland, Pinot Noir has since traveled the globe, finding success in other cooler climates, notably in California, Oregon, New Zealand, and Germany. This grape is a challenge for any grower, as it requires specific conditions to show its best, and yet the wines it produces are capable of such a captivating and singular character.
