The 2012 vintage marks the release of the first vintage from the Gloria Estate Vineyard, situated on a hillside adjacent the winery. Five clones and/or selections were chose by winemaker Akiko Freeman including Swan, Calera, Martini, Pommard 5 and 115 to be planted at this cool corner of the Russian River Valley AVA. A sister vineyard, Yu-ki, located in the Sonoma Coast, is now in full production and along with Gloria will be the focal point of Freeman’s estate wine program. The first Yu-ki Vineyard Pinot Noir will be released in 2015. Visit the newly expanded website at www.freemanwinery.com to learn more about these two properties.

2011 Freeman Akikos Cuvée Pinot Noir. Dark forest floor, raspberry, pomegranate, cherry and cardamom. Wild strawberry married with clean, precise acidity and balance. Cerebral and refined, a wine to drink over dinner.

2013 Top 100 - Rank #47
Freeman’s only vineyard-designated Pinot Noir comes from Marcy Keefer’s ranch located in the Russian River Valley. It brings beautiful aromas of wild cherries and red berries followed by intense spices, dried rose petals and hints of grilled herbs. This is a classy pinot with lots of character, showing amazing structure and balance. The finish is velvety and mouthwatering leaving berries and spices lingering. Since 2004 Freeman has been sourcing clones 23 (swiss) and Dijon 777 from Keefer. In 2011, they were able to purchase small amounts of clones 2A (swiss) and Dijon 115. This is probably the least approachable of all Freeman's 2011 releases, however the Keefer seems to be the most serious with the highest potential to evolve over the next decade. (Best 2014-2025)
- July, 2013 (JD)

93 Points

2011 Freeman Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir. Layers of dark forest floor, raspberry, pomegranate, and cardamom. I love the wild strawberry and purity from clean, precise acidity. Cerebral and refined, a wine to drink over dinner.

Ken and Akiko Freeman started their winery in 2001 and since then have developed a style of Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that appeals to those who savor cool-climate wines with lovely, ripe fruit flavors. The veteran winemaker for many years, Ed Kurtzman, has passed the winemaking duties on to Akiko, and has assumed a consulting posture. The 7-acre Freeman Estate Vineyard (Gloria Vineyard) adjacent the winery will produce a vineyard-designated Pinot Noir for the first time from the 2012 vintage, adding to their portfolio of wines produced from sourced grapes. The winery is built into a hillside cave where Ken and Akiko also hold tastings by appointment. Total production is fewer than 5,000 cases which is sold through a mailing list. The winery offers a Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley appellation Pinot Noir, a Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, and the Akiko’s Cuvée, which is a barrel selection. An excellent Rosé of Pinot Noir and the Rya-fu Russian River Valley Chardonnay complete the lineup. The wines are distributed to selected retailers and restaurants throughout the United States, and several hundred cases are sent to Japan (Akiko’s birthplace) each year. 

The 2011 Freeman wines were reviewed this past year in the PinotFile (www.princeofpinot.com/winery/501/). After a tasting of the 2011 wines in the winery cave, our group was invited into the Freemans’ home on the property for a lunch. We got a sneak peak at the 2012 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir which was very special.