Freeman Pinot Noir Sonoma County Akiko's Cuvée 2010

Seared cherry fruit, beetroot, parsnip and lightly toasted wood greets the nose, to be joined by a touch of persimmon and some dried floral tones. This is smooth as silk and elegant on entry, though by no means meek. It delivers vivid, bright, expressive flavors of wild cherry framed with soft, well-judged notes of spice, herbs, and a gentle mineral backdrop. The balance is excellent: supple yet with a firm spine that offers nice cut on the backend and onto the long, succulently fruity finish. With time the mid-palate gains a nice aromatic quality, adding a touch of violet pastille to the array of floral notes, and the flavors gain the quality of sweet fruit without an impression of sweetness. There’s a touch of oak that emerges on the finish but it only adds to the complexity. This is singing today. 93pts

Gorgeous nose, full of women’s perfume, underbrush, nutmeg, earth, sapwood, wild berries, and licorice root with wonderful intensity. On entry this is pretty big and a touch matte like a sandwich of acid with fruit serving as the bread. It’s packed with succulent fruit gently edged with spicy cinnamon and nutmeg tones though the fruit gently release the acid adding lift to the mineral laden wild raspberry fruit on the mid-palate. This needs another year to really open up but has all the ingredients to be a stunner. It ends with a subtle persistence, like the waves on the bay continuously grinding ashore. 94pts