Tasting Notes
After an incredibly small 2015 vintage and four straight years of drought, 2016 was a come-back year for our Sonoma Coast vineyards. Rainfall was just below average, yield sizes were normal, and a combination of fog and cool temperatures provided ideal conditions for coastal Pinot Noir. The 2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, like the 2015, will be among the longestlived wines of the vintage. We like to pick our Pinot on the earlier side, which results in aromas that lean toward the spicy, savory side. The palate hints at a long development, with high acidity and quite a bit of tannin for a Pinot Noir. An hour or two in a decanter will benefit the wine in its youth, or better yet, wait until 2019 to open it. The wine should continue to show well through 2028
About Freeman Vineyards and Winery
Freeman Vineyard & Winery was founded by Ken and Akiko Freeman in 2001, but the seed was planted 16 years earlier. Those who have visited Freeman’s picturesque winery in the Russian River Valley often ask about the keystone engraved with the date September 28, 1985, which crowns the entrance to the wine cave. The answer recalls a moment that is at the heart of the Freeman story. In 1985, while crewing a yacht on its way to the Caribbean, Ken was forced by Hurricane Gloria to head to port near his hometown of Scarsdale, N.Y., where a friend happened to be hosting a lively party. Amidst the jeans and t-shirts of the storm-bound revelers, Ken saw Akiko, newly arrived in the United States from Japan and beautifully attired in a Chanel dress. He was smitten. The date was September 28, 1985. While the couple was initially brought together by a hurricane, they were also bound by a shared passion for refined, cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Driven by the firm belief that California is capable of producing wines every bit as complex and compelling as those of Burgundy, they explored more than 300 properties before choosing a site on which to build their dream. Their search ultimately led them to western Sonoma County, with its steep hillside terrain and cooling ocean breezes. From the first vintage, the Freeman style went against convention. While others pushed the limits of ripeness, Akiko and consulting winemaker Ed Kurtzman sought balance and refinement. Today, the winery is defined by those same pursuits, with Akiko at the helm as winemaker, and Freeman is recognized internationally as one of California’s most acclaimed small producers. Since 2001, Freeman has been one of the great pioneers of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, charting a course to the western edges of California winegrowing, where the influence of the Pacific Ocean shapes the character of the wines. In doing so, the winery has helped to define a more balanced, sophisticated and thoughtful style of winemaking—a style that has been embraced by connoisseurs and collectors around the world.
