Freeman Gloria Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Freeman Vineyard & Winery was founded by Ken and Akiko Freeman in 2001, just 16 years after they met. In 1985, as Ken was crewing a yacht on its way to the Caribbean, Hurricane Gloria forced him to head back to port. Had it not been for Gloria, Ken would never have met Akiko, who was at the party he attended that very evening, newly arrived from Japan herself. They caught each others eyes straight away and were bound by a shared passion for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

After visiting more than 300 properties, Ken and Akiko found their perfect site in Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, Whilst others were making riper, more opulent styles, Ken and Akiko sought balance and refinement in their wines.

The Gloria Estate is not only named after the hurricane that brought Ken and Akiko together, but also the previous owner, who ran it as an apple orchard till 2005. Sitting just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Gloria is blessed with a steep hillside for optimal drainage, Goldridge sandy loam soils, and a climate that is sunny but unusually cool, moderated by fog. The grapes undergo a five-day cold soak in open-top fermenters, with hand punch-downs two to three times per day. The wine spends 11 months in French oak, of which just 20% is new.

This is consistently the most voluptuous Pinot Noir from Freeman. Dense purple in colour, with aromas of raspberry compote and allspice. There is a distinct richness on the palate, balanced by high acidity, making this an especially silky style of Pinot Noir with a long finish.