Winemaker Notes
2015 was a great year for quality in all of the vineyards where Freeman sources Pinot Noir. The size of the crop was far below yields of the previous three years, partially due to the drought, and also because of a cool weather spell in May, which came during the crucial flowering period. The harvest was exceptionally early. Akiko chose four vineyards to go into the 2015 Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir, including Keefer, Pratt Sexton, Campbell, and our own Gloria. These sites represent almost the entire western Sonoma Coast appellation, from Keefer and Gloria in the southeast corner of the Green Valley area to Campbell in the northwest corner and Seaview-Fort Ross still further north. It can take nearly an hour in the glass before the 2015 vintage of Akiko’s Cuvée starts to unwind and reveal what lies in store, which is typical for this wine. Even the very ripe character of the early-harvested 2015 vintage did not affect the way Akiko came up with her blend, as she consistently prefers the more subtle barrels over the showy ones. The fragrance and complexity of this wine is unparalleled among our six 2015 Pinot Noirs. This wine should be cellared until 2018 and will last through 2028.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is a classic all the way through, from the exciting spice and dark-fruit aromas to the rich yet vibrant flavors and palate-gripping structure that suggests its ability to age. It has a wealth of fine-grained tannins, a medium to full body and a grand sense of weight and concentration. Best after 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Pinot Noir Akiko's Cuvee is pale ruby-purple in color and sings of ripe cherries, pomegranate and wild strawberries with hints of Provence herbs, lavender, black pepper and tree bark. The palate is medium-bodied and delicately played with a quiet intensity of perfumed red fruits and finely grained tannins, finishing with great freshness. 408 cases produced.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.