Freeman Winery

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The 2012 Sonoma Coast vintage produced one of the largest and “problem- free” crops since 1997. The weather was perfect for growing conditions from the beautiful spring, the cool but sunny summer, to the mild September without a major heat spikes. Following earlier vintages, the harvest was on the later side, but the flavors were excellent with deep complexity.

William Rayhill’s vineyard on Falstaff Road in the Sebastopol Hills region makes up the largest part of this year’s Sonoma Coast wine. We’ve been sourcing the Pinot from Rayhill since 2004. Just above Occidental and across the street from Freeman’s Yu-ki property is the Guidici Vineyard, which was the next component of the blend. Also located in Occidental is the Harmony Lane Vineyard, and this was our second year working with that fruit source.

Campbell Ranch near Annapolis is our northern-most site, located just a few miles from the Mendocino border and the Pacific Ocean. Followed by Ted Klopp’s Thorn Ridge, coastal vineyard, Hellenthal, Keller Estate’s El Coro and finally Jim Pratt’s Sexton Road Vineyard, make up the rest of our 2012 Sonoma Coast.

The 2012 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is among the darker hues of this wine that we’ve seen over the years. The nose is right in line with what we expect from the Sonoma Coast: subtle, spicy, fragrant, complex and intriguing. Right away you will notice the high acidity on the palate, however the fruit ripeness of this vintage is pronounced and carries a great balance into the finish. The flavors are an interesting mix of cola nut, black currants, tart plums and some oak. This wine should be at its best from 2015 through 2024.