Freeman Vineyard & Winery

Yu-ki Estate Pinot Noir

US, California

2022

The 2022 Yu-ki Estate Pinot Noir hails from a unique vineyard nestled above the town of Occidental, a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 1,000 feet: ideal growing conditions for the heartbreak grape. It's a bright and juicy wine with floral notes and some serious muscle to it. Drink it with lamb koftas.

Freeman's Yu‑ki Estate Pinot Noir comes from their dramatic, wind‑swept vineyard situated 1,000 ft above Occidental and only five miles from the Pacific Ocean, giving the site a cool, maritime influence ideal for pinot noir.

In 2021, 21 of 79 barrels were selected for the final blend, expressing the vineyard's low yields and focused fruit. The wine is built from a diverse set of clones – including Calera, Mt. Eden, Wadenswil, Mariafeld and multiple Dijon selections – which enhance complexity. The resulting pinot noir displays dark cherry, spices, underbrush, and coastal herbal notes, supported by fine tannins and bright acidity.

Freeman ferments and ages the wine with a gentle, Burgundian‑influenced touch to preserve aromatic integrity and terroir expression, making it one of the most site‑driven wines in their portfolio.

Tasting
NOTES

A serious wine built for a serious meal, on the nose you'll find notes of dried rose petals, fresh peonies, crushed strawberries, sun-ripened cherries and cranberry jam. Lovers of Vosne Romanée will find a lot to like about this wine with its taut, fine-grained tannins, silky mouthfeel, vibrant acidity and red fruit flavours. It manages to be both rich and delicate with an olive brine savouriness and a hint of smoke and spice on the finish.

Food
PAIRINGS

Bright and juicy, this pinot can pair with all manner of dishes, including rabbit stew, duck with a black currant sauce, venison sausages, and lamb koftas with pomegranate and sumac.