Vineyard Article

Dutton Ranch’s Freestone Hill Vineyard was the pioneering outpost of the now coveted Salmon Creek viticultural neighborhood. Located in the extreme southwest corner of the Russian River Valley appellation, on the coastal side of the Petaluma wind gap, this area is at the climatic margin for ripening grapes. The fog reaches this neighborhood early and leaves late, but in great years we are rewarded with fruit of extraordinary concentration, balance and personality. Our vineyard, planted in 1996 and 1997, is located on a southeast-facing hillside above the little town of Freestone and only a few miles from Bodega Bay. The difficult flowering conditions give us tiny grape berries, low yield and thick skins for highly concentrated wines. The long cool season and limited crop provides for developed tannins and flavor, along with bright natural acidity and moderate alcohol. The upper 1996 planting includes clones 115, 2A and 114: co-fermented, the result is always dense, aromatic and spicy. The extremely steep 1997 lower planting is all 667, which provides crystalline blackberry/black cherry fruit