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2002 turned out to be a Pinot Noir winemaker's dream in California's cool coastal appellations, particularly in the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. After the warmer season and more prolific harvest of 2001, cool weather in the spring of '02 limited the flowering of the grape clusters and ensured a small crop. The typical summer weather pattern of foggy mornings and sunny afternoons ripened the grapes in perfect fashion without any unusual hot or cold spells in September. The wine coming out of the fermenters promised both great concentration and finesse--an unusual balancing act that occurs in only two or three vintages each decade.

For the second year in a row, Akiko's Cuvée is made from Akiko Freeman's seven favorite barrels in the winery. Ken, Akiko and winemaker Ed Kurtzman again unanimously preferred the cuvée (blend) of Akiko's barrels over all other blends that we put together. Since the wine comes mostly from the Meredith Estate Swan clone, it's not surprising the 2003 Akiko's Cuvée is filled with Burgundian Pinot spice in the nose and on the palate. It is a large-framed Pinot, like its sibling, the 2003 Sonoma Coast, yet at the same time it is a much more elegant wine. There is a softness to the Akiko's which should make it enjoyable soon after its release in 2005. The depth of its ripe fruit will help the 2003 Akiko's Cuvée age and evolve over the next 7-10 years.

The 2002 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir exhibits ripe black cherry flavors with an underlying toastiness provided by the 50% new French oak barrels in which it was aged 15 months. Each of the two vineyards which make up the blend provides its unique characteristics to the wine. The Thomas Road Vineyard gives the wine a dense backbone of earthy Pinot fruit, while the Meredith Estate Vineyard endows the blend with an intensely fruity aroma profile and supple texture. Although it will be hard to resist the 2002 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir upon its release, it will undoubtedly age, soften and improve through 2007.

The vintage of 2003 produced many, rich full-bodied Pinot Noirs across California, and the Freeman Sonoma Coast is no exception. The 2003 harvest for Freeman started on September 18th and ended two days later on the 20th in the middle of a two week heat wave. The extreme temperatures pushed the Sonoma Coast fruit to some of its ripest levels on record. Comprised of Pinot Noir from 3 vineyards of various clones and exposures, the 2003 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of blackberries, coffee and oak. A huge mouth feel filled with ripe fruits and chocolate leads to a long, toasty finish. This wine should drink well between 2005 and 2010.

2003 is the first Chardonnay vintage for Freeman Vineyard & Winery. The Chardonnay grapes were grown by the renowned Heintz Ranch which has been in Heintz family for over 100 years. Their meticulous farming, combined with Clone 4 grapes, the perfect location and the age of the vines, produces some of the country's most highly-rated Chardonnay. The wine exhibits deep aromas of tropical fruits like papaya and pineapple, a fairly substantial mouth feel with a lush, soft texture but kept firm by crisp acidity, and an elegant finish with hints of toasty oak and more of the tropical fruits.