2016 Freestone Vineyards Pinot Noir

I was also able to taste a number of releases from Sonoma, all of which are more than noteworthy. Starting with the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards, this fragrant, nuanced red offers lots of darker cherry, macerated strawberries, forest floor, and sweet spice-laced aromatics. It’s medium-bodied, supple, and straight-up delicious on the palate, with tons to love. Drink it any time over the coming 7-8 years.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards leaps from the glass with an intense perfume of violets, redcurrants and black cherries with hints of black pepper, lavender, cinnamon stick and black tea. The palate is medium-bodied and very elegant yet wonderfully intense with a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and fragrant. 3,015 cases produced.

Succulent red cherry, plum, cola and spice notes are pushed forward in the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards. The 2016 is an undeniably beautiful and well made wine, but it is very much done in a somewhat bombastic style, especially within the context of the appellation. The dense fruit and powerful tannins might come as a surprise to readers who expect this to be an entry-level wine in the range. The Freestone Pinot is approximately equal parts Pastorale and Quarter Moon.