Wine Time – Freeman Winery
Remember the year 1985 and a hurricane named Gloria that struck the east coast? More on that in a bit…
Now journey to Sebastopol, California, smack in the middle of one of the world’s best Pinot Noir growing regions. This finicky varietal loves these parts, which brings us to…
Owners Ken and Akiko Freeman founded the winery in 2001 after an extensive vineyard search. They targeted cool hillside properties that would promote the purity of character they were seeking to imbue in their wines. The hillside property at the western edge of the Russian River Valley AVA fit the bill.
Akiko took the winemaking reins under the tutelage of esteemed
winemaker Ed Kurtzman and today is crafting the style of wines the Freemans had
envisioned from the outset. Refined and
balanced, these are graceful wines that flow wonderfully on the palate. Current production is in the 4500-case range,
which allows the attention to detail that Akiko applies to her craft.
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| Winemaker Akiko Freeman with the author. |
Three vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs are currently made
from Keefer Ranch in Green Valley, the Yu-ki Estate vineyard near the coast, and
the Gloria Estate vineyard (remember the hurricane?) at the winery. You will also find a Russian River Valley
Pinot, a Sonoma Coast Pinot and the splendid Akiko’s Cuvée.
Do I have a favorite?
All of the Pinots are certainly finely crafted and represent the terroir
of their vineyards. However, I must confess
a leaning to the Gloria Estate bottling.
This 8-acre vineyard, formerly an apple orchard, was planted to Swan,
Calera, Martini, Pommard and Dijon115 clones.
A lot of thought and spirit went into the makeup of this vineyard, and
it carries over into the glass. This is
Akiko Freeman’s flagship effort...!For Chardonnay fans, the Ryo-fu (cool breeze) is made with the same style and care as the Pinot lineup. Sourced primarily from Keefer Ranch and Heintz Ranch vineyards, this is an excellent wine.
A visit to Freeman
Winery yields a relaxed and intimate experience. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and
the wines are impressive.
As for that hurricane…
Turns out that mother nature introduced Ken and Akiko in 1985. A chance encounter brought about by the
weather, that yielded an excellent winemaking adventure. Who would have known...?Grace in a glass – highly recommended…!
Cheers!
Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the
highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients
with the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to
wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your
dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your
personal connection to the good life…
Marty can be contacted at: 916.952.9529 Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com