Freeman Winery, founded in 2001 by Ken and Akiko Freeman, is a benchmark producer of cool‑climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the far western edges of Sonoma. Sourcing from steep, windswept sites on the Sonoma Coast and the coolest pockets of the Russian River Valley, the winery focuses on elegance, balance, and a Burgundian‑inspired refinement. With Akiko Freeman as winemaker, Freeman crafts small‑production wines that highlight purity, finesse, and a strong sense of place—helping redefine what New World Pinot and Chardonnay can be.

Each vintage since their inaugural 2002, Freeman has released an Akiko’s Cuvée. Akiko Freeman and her winemaking staff taste each barrel of Pinot in the winery from that vintage and choose their favorites. Then, each person’s top barrels are put together in a blend (or cuvée), and we subsequently taste each of the samples blind, so that no one knows whose favorite barrels are in which blend. We call this Akiko’s Cuvée since her blend almost always wins this blind tasting. The four vineyards from where Freeman sourced Pinot Noir in 2019 are represented in the Akiko’s Cuvée - Gloria, KR, Yu-ki and Pratt.

The 2019 Akiko’s Cuvée is the darkest wine of the vintage for Freeman. There’s so much going on with the aromas of this wine, it takes hours in a decanter or in the glass to decipher all the complexities. There’s the fruit forward notes of Gloria and KR, with deep berry, plums and floral scents. Then there are the more earth-driven aspects, like fresh herbs, forest floor and cola that come from Yu-ki and Pratt. On the palate, you’ll find the elegant mouthfeel we have come to expect from Akiko’s Cuvée. The balance between fruit and acidity is perfect. Enjoy this from 2022 through 2032.