Freeman Vineyard & Winery, Akiko’s Cuvée, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2017

“Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Akiko’s Cuvée is scented of red and black cherries, dried herbs, dusty earth, blackberries, stewed black tea leaves and potpourri with woodsmoke and bergamot emerging over time. Light to medium-bodied with slowly evolving fruits and spices, it’s framed by grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy.”-92WA

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 they subsequently taste each of the samples  blind, so that no one knows whose favorite barrels are in which blend. They call this Akiko’s Cuvée since her blend almost always wins this blind tasting.