Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017

Professional Ratings

• 96 Wine Enthusiast
  This expressive wine impresses in its expanse of savory tension and complexity, with accents of clove and cardamom. It is lightly styled on the palate and shows good integration of oak and polished tannins, filled out by the berry fruit core that offers length and breadth.
  Editors' Choice
• 94 James Suckling
  Lots of blueberries, blackberries and slate on the nose. Medium-bodied, integrated and tight. Refined and driven. Drink now or hold.
• 93 Jeb Dunnuck

  Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2017 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards comes from a handful of sites and spent 13 months in one-third new French oak. Mostly destemmed (80%), its ruby hue is followed by a beautiful bouquet of cranberries, caramelized cherries, orange rind, and spicy aromas and flavors. It's nicely textured, balanced, has good acidity, and a great finish.

• 92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2017 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyard was made using about 20% whole cluster and aged for 13 months in 34% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, it has a very open, gregarious nose of dried rose petals, potpourri, tree bark, red licorice and ripe red and black fruits with pretty spicy notes of cinnamon stick and clove. Light to medium-bodied, it has good layers of spicy, perfumed fruit in the mouth, with soft, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and spicy.
  Rating: 92+
• 90 Wine & Spirits

  This wine’s clean lines shepherd translucent red-berry fruit toward darker tart cherry-skin flavors. It gains floral notes as it opens with air, a lush and gentle pinot for seared duck breast.