Freeman Winery

Yu-ki Estate Pinot Noir

Set above the town of Occidental, Yu-ki Estate is located just five miles from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 1,000 feet. We purchased this remarkable site in 2007 and named it for Akiko’s nephew in Japan. One translation of Yu-ki is “big tree,” which is a fitting name for a property surrounded by old-growth redwoods. We planted the estate with our favorite heritage and Dijon Pinot Noir clones, and to preserve the property’s majestic redwoods, we donated 22 acres to the Bodega Land Trust.

This was an unusually cool and late vintage for all of California, but we had an especially late year at Yu-ki. The vineyard’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and high elevation, combined with cool summer days and chilly nights, caused the grapes to ripen at a slow pace. Bud break occurred in early April, three to four weeks later than normal, due to a cold and rainy winter in 2023. Fruit quality was exceptional of all of our fruit in 2023, with low sugar levels and high acidity, and this was especially true for Yu-ki.

We produced only 54 barrels of Pinot Noir from Yu-ki in 2023, which translates to a yield of 1.67 tons per acre. Of those barrels, 21 went into the Yu-ki Estate, nine went into Akiko’s Cuvée and 14 contributed to the West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. All seven of Yu-ki’s Pinot Noir clones are represented in the wine: Calera, Mt. Eden, 2A Wadenswil, 23 Mariafeld, 114, 667 and 828.

Our 2023 Yu-ki Estate Pinot Noir shows a clear, deep color in the glass. The aroma is an intriguing combination of fruit and spice. The wine features scents of blackberries, plums, candied apples, rhubarb, cola, toast and dark roasted coffee beans. Youthful tannins frame the dense palate, which is dominated by dark fruits and moderate acidity. The 2023 vintage will age gracefully in the bottle for years to come, and should be at its best from 2026 through 2038.