Freeman Winery

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

This was a smoke-free vintage for all of coastal California, and the first year since 2016 that brought virtually no wildfires in Sonoma wine country. This was a welcome contrast to 2020, when the entire county’s vineyards were threatened by smoke. 

Aside from below-average rainfall for the season, 2021 was a typical Russian River Valley vintage in terms of weather. The usual pattern of  foggy nights and mornings followed by sunny afternoons produced a small  but beautiful crop of fully ripe Pinot Noir throughout the appellation. In the Green Valley, where Gloria and KR Ranch are located, we started picking fruit in late August, and we finished just after Labor Day with the Pratt vineyard.

Freeman’s Gloria Estate made up almost half of the 2021 Russian River Valley blend at 47%. All five clones from Gloria are included in the wine: Calera, Swan, Pommard, 115 and Martini. Planted in 2007 and 2008, Gloria is finally reaching full maturity as a vineyard and has come into its  own. It is always the earliest vineyard to ripen for us, and it provides the  backbone of ripeness and structure to our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Jim Pratt’s vineyard on Sexton Road made up 35% of the blend with Dijon  clone 777 and Swiss clone 2A, also known as Wadenswil. The KR Ranch,  formerly known as Keefer, made up 18% of the Russian River blend in 2021  with the Swiss clone 23—also known as Mariafeld—and additional Dijon  777. Freeman has been using Pratt fruit since 2005 and KR since 2004.

The 2021 Freeman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir has a deep ruby red color and presents aromas of plums, holiday spices, wet leaves and earth. On the palate, there are flavors of Bing cherries and pomegranates, along with mouthwatering acidity. Some subtle oak and tannins add to the long and pleasant finish. Drink this wine from mid-2023 through 2032.