Winemaker Notes
Of the three West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs Freeman made in 2021, the Yu-ki Estate is the most open, with wild blackberries on the nose and aromas of fresh roots, lilacs and olallieberry coulis. The weight on the palate is substantial and is framed by firm tannins, masking some of the wine’s underlying acidity. As the wine opens up in the glass, perfectly balanced fruit and earthy flavors come through and last for a few minutes on the finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Sapid from start to finish, with mulberry and loganberry coulis notes enlivened by crackling hints of bramble, savory and red tea, plus ocean breeze minerality. The low-oak feel lets the finish play out breezily. A textbook example of the varietal in this AVA. Drink now through 2031. 450 cases made.
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.