Wine with Bok
9.25/10

Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 2017 versus Lange Freedom Hill 2021

I planned for this heads-on clash of the two Pinot Noir as I wanted to see how the New World style compete against the Old World style. Clos des Mouches has been producing really quality wine since 1920s, with 100 years of history behind them, surely, they have stood the test of time. While Lange Freedom Hill only started since 1996, and this wine is probably the second-best wine produced by Lange, thus the competition is rather fair. I decanted both the wines for 2 hours just to let them open up to compete on a fair ground. Upon my first sip, there’s no turning back, the Clos des Mouches were so addictive that I keep revisiting my glass and really enjoy sipping it. Freedom Hill was not far apart in terms of quality, but it was no match against the ultra-soft, superb finesse and head turning elegance of Clos des Mouches. Freedom Hill did try very hard to match the quality of Clos des Mouches, as the fruits were soft and elegant, for a New World style, this is quite an achievement already. My vote still went to Clos des Mouches tonight, but for the price difference, the Lange Freedom Hill is definitely worth a second thought.

Our Single Vineyard Designate series pays homage to the vaunted terroirs of the Willamette Valley. While constrained by these terroirs, as winemakers we still have to summon the blending skills to combine, oftentimes, dozens of different lots of wines from the same vineyard while being mindful of the intriguing sense of place that terroir brings. These wines speak resolutely of where they are grown and are distinctly complex and powerful. This pinot noir is a blend of fruit from our longtime partner, Freedom Hill Vineyard, which is planted to marine sedimentary soil. The Lange’s have sourced fruit from the Duschee family since 1996. The site’s typically warm days and cool nights allow for complete fruit ripening while maintaining essential acid balance.

International Wine Report - 95 points
The Freedom Hill Pinot Noirs from Lange are always been some of my favorites from winemaker Jesse Lange, and this one is no exception. The nose is scintillating with notes of wild huckleberry, crushed blueberry, candied blue raspberry, dried tarragon, dried rose, orange pith, and wet earth tones. The palate is much the same, with additional flavors of crushed wild herbs and lemon zest that rest on the back palate. A wonderful wine that is great now but will benefit from a year or two in the cellar. Highly recommended.

James Suckling - 94 points
Fragrant nose of dark cherries, black raspberries, violets, rosemary and peppercorns. Cloves, too. It’s vibrant and spicy, with a medium body and tight-knit tannins. Long and firm. Lots of tension.