Freeman, Akiko's Cuvee Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Freeman · California › Sonoma Coast › United States of America

Red · Pinot Noir
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LWIN 1203473
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
91 /100
Reviews
30
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

35
35
Reviews
91.3
Avg Score
98
Highest
Taster #7240 · Feb 6, 2026
97/100
Retail $85. Akiko's Cuvee is always a blend of the best 15-20 barrels from each vintage, made every year since the inaugural 2002 vintage. According to Akiko, this blend typically requires additional bottle aging to fully mature, but right now? Absolutely gorgeous. Whoa. Easily the best nose thus far, with fresh berry (cherry, straw, black) cobbler oozing over the rim. Yowza. A bit of spice and plenty of verve here; sure, this is young, but oh so delicious. I would …
2022 vintage
Taster #1693 · Jan 5, 2025
Opened not decanted. Showing some brown tint in color; a mouthful of dark cherry fruit; light to medium weight in body; ends with a long but sharp cherry finish. I actually think this has not peaked. Good to Very Good.
2010 vintage
Taster #5824 · Oct 19, 2024
91/100
Great nose; Great transparency; Clean; Nice
2022 vintage
Taster #1693 · Aug 7, 2022
Brown, hot, alcoholic; over the hill and possibly heat damaged due to our 18 month construction project.
2010 vintage
Taster #1252 · Jul 2, 2019
90/100
Nice but I was hoping for more complexity. Good ripe cherry nose. Silky mouth. Somewhat layered a decent finish. No reason to hold that I can detect.
2012 vintage
Taster #3403 · Apr 25, 2018
90/100
West of West DC (The Hecht Washington DC) : Really interesting nose which is the best part of this pinot to me. Palate doesn't quite deliver the same level of interest but decent.
2012 vintage
Taster #2032 · Dec 2, 2017
90/100
Still sharper than many premium Sonoma Pinots from '12, but with a pleasantly rich backbone. In late '17 it's just on the younger side of the curve - fruit forward. I would expect more secondary characteristics to start showing in '18-'20. Drink now if you like the brighter Northern California Pinot style, otherwise give it another year or two.
2012 vintage
Taster #6686 · Nov 7, 2017
93/100
Very tasty
2012 vintage
Taster #0259 · May 28, 2017
98/100
wonderful, full ripe cherry flavor and aroma. One of our all time favorite Pinot Noir's. You need to try this! Paired great with fresh cedar plank salmon.
2012 vintage
Taster #6503 · Apr 6, 2017
92/100
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle with perhaps a hint more vanilla on the palate.
2012 vintage
Taster #6503 · Mar 31, 2017
92/100
Silky red cherry and strawberries on the nose and ripe palate with earth & spicy notes culminating in a long tasty finish.
2012 vintage
Taster #6503 · Mar 1, 2017
92/100
Drinking better than the last bottle, but not up to the 2009.
2010 vintage
Taster #0171 · Dec 16, 2016
92/100
30 minute decant. Very enjoyable.
2012 vintage
Taster #7016 · Jul 14, 2016
91/100
We pnp'd at dinner, red fruit on the nose, the palate is red currants and strawberry with a touch of baking spice, a nice smooth finish made this a very enjoyable wine.
2012 vintage
Taster #0171 · Jul 8, 2016
91/100
No decant.
2012 vintage
Taster #5979 · Apr 16, 2016
92/100
Lovely Pinot, drinking well now.
2010 vintage
Taster #3373 · Feb 22, 2016
91/100
Better than I remember. Softened with airtime, red fruit, nice acidity. nothing spectacular and definitely not a bargain.
2010 vintage
Taster #0694 · Sep 28, 2015
90/100
On second consideration two years later, I'm lowering my rating from 92 to 90. It's a really nice wine but not as special as I remembered it.
2010 vintage
Taster #6503 · Sep 9, 2015
91/100
Not up to recent bottles from 2009 & 2008, with riper fruit and less complexity but with a similar silky smooth palate.
2010 vintage
Taster #7081 · Aug 9, 2015
88/100
There is absolutely no way one could ever mistake this wine for something from France. Australia maybe, (with enough chemicals) NZ sure (if they got lucky) but old world subtle charm and balance? NFW (technical wine term for highly unlikely). You see this wine hurts. It's so narrow and focused and intense its like trying to sip a laser (ok, ok poetic license -the last time I actually tried to stick my tongue I front of a laser it got …
2010 vintage
Taster #7016 · Jul 20, 2015
91/100
We PNP'd. Nice fruit on the nose, the palate was red berries and dark red cherries with spices. A nice long finish.
2010 vintage
Taster #2546 · Nov 22, 2014
89/100
Dark cherry red color; beets, tart cherry nose; beets, tart cherry palate; medium-plus finish
2012 vintage
Taster #7016 · Oct 21, 2014
90/100
We PNP'd, crushed red fruit on the nose, maroon in color, the palate was medium with flavors of strawberries and raspberries which led to a long finish. Perfectly complimented the seared salmon it was served with.
2010 vintage
Taster #0171 · Sep 22, 2014
92/100
No decant. Better the second night.
2010 vintage
Taster #2546 · Aug 2, 2014
91/100
Dark ruby color; tart cherry puree, oak nose; tart cherry puree, oak, cranberry palate; could use 1-2 years; medium-plus finish 91+ points
2012 vintage
Taster #7753 · Jul 27, 2014
RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma) : 14.2% A barrel selection from 200 barrels 20 of the best. ‘Feminine.’ Beautifully nuanced aromas. The nose isn’t as flashy, but really nice fruit to the palate. Cherry and a fresher red fruit on the palate.
2012 vintage
Taster #2659 · May 5, 2014
91/100
Heritage Grand Wine Tasting (Ritz-Carlton - Chicago, IL) : Biggest of the Pinots. Very dense and tannic overall. Enjoyable and robust.
2012 vintage
Taster #4443 · Apr 9, 2014
West of West Wine Festival (West Sonoma Coast Vintners) (City Winery - Chicago IL) : Tasting, brief note. More intense spice and powerful fruit vs the Sonoma Coast, but not coming across as more fat. Very good balance with moderate length. Has the raw materials to develop nuance with more bottle age.
2012 vintage
Taster #5081 · Apr 9, 2014
91/100
West of West - Chicago. Poured by Akiko herself. Red fruits and spice, but needs some time in bottle. Very nice.
2012 vintage
Taster #0171 · Mar 14, 2014
90/100
No decant.
2010 vintage
Taster #3402 · Mar 14, 2014
Bud Smail
2010 vintage
Taster #0171 · Oct 15, 2013
90/100
No decant. Light color.
2010 vintage
Taster #0694 · Sep 26, 2013
92/100
This is lovely now....probably great in a few years. Currants, spices, cherries (tart and sweet)....well balanced!
2010 vintage
Taster #2546 · Aug 4, 2012
92/100
West of West Wine Festival; 8/4/2012-8/5/2012 (Occidental Center for the Arts, Occidental, California) : Medium dark red color with pale meniscus; appealing, tart strawberry, floral nose; tasty, tart strawberry, floral, tart cherry, mineral palate with medium acidity; needs 1-2 years; medium-plus finish
2010 vintage
Taster #2546 · Mar 19, 2012
90/100
2012 In Pursuit of Balance Tasting (Julia Morgan Ballroom, Merchants Exchange Building, San Francisco, California) : Light-medium red color with pale meniscus; tart red fruit, floral nose; tasty, tart red fruit, floral, rosehips, mineral palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 90+ points
2010 vintage