Freeman, Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch, Russian River Valley

Beautiful perfume - typical of this vineyard. But the usual Keefer vibrancy hasn't stuck a around - things have become sort of laid back, not really for the better. One of my favorite fruit sources in the hands of one of my favorite producers, but msybe the best qualities show best when younger than this?

2015 vintage

Brought to Solbar, in Calistoga.it was opened tasted and I asked for a decanter. Cherry fruit with a narrow profile on opening. Became rounder and fuller, with deep notes of cherry and red berry fruit. Paired with risotto and a black cod filet (my wife and I shared plates). Ends with a wet snd dry finish. Very Good. This use to be one of our favorite Napa Valley restaurants pre-pandemic. I agree with Michelin that it doesn’t deserve the 1 …

2015 vintage

Freeman is among my favorite PNs. Keefer Ranch is my favorite among there various labels. My two earlier bottles of this one were good, but not quite up to what I expect. This one was extremely good. It was a major crowd pleaser at a restaurant.

2015 vintage

May be selling the rating a bit short. This bottle went quickly at a dinner with a golf group. I like the darker style of PN that is common with Freeman, as well as Keefer Ranch sourced grapes. The bottle was opened about 45 minutes before we began to drink it.

2015 vintage

This is a nice pinot noir. Opened and started pouring. Dark red fruit on the nose. The palate is dark cherry with hints of raspberry. A moderate to long finish. Drank alongside the Freeman Russian River of the same vintage and this was my preferred wine.

2015 vintage

I like deep/dark/complex PNs.....and this is one. It took a while to open up in a restaurant. One bottle left.

2013 vintage

Simply lovely pinot! Delicious dark sour cherry, strawberry and earthy notes on the nose and palate with silky texture and spice culminating in a long finish.

2013 vintage

Tasted at Freeman Vineyards. Dark color, big nose of raspberry and a hint of dark cherry. Rasberry comes thru on the taste with a medium/long finish.

2015 vintage

Very pretty wine. RRV is a little too much of a fruit bomb for me but the funk is nice on this one. A little more restrained than most RRV is why I like this one.

2015 vintage

Freeman Winery tasting visit. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of floral garden, earth, red cherrie, dark spice. Developing. On the palate, dry, juicy high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), medium tannins, medium body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of red plums, red cherries, cranberries. Long finish. Very good quality. Hidden potential. Much more embryonic at the moment as compared to the 2015 Failla Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch. Conservative score for now. …

2015 vintage

Quite wonderful - remarkably full. While it has certainly crossed into the "aged" side of Russian River Pinot Noir, it is by no means tired or past its peak. Brownish halo, savory nose and palate, maybe a little less light on its feet than this usually zingy vineyard shows when it's younger, but more than makes up for it with a deeper fruit and integrated weight.

2006 vintage

Typically superb offering of this vineyard from this producer. Fruit and acid led, as usual from Keefer Vineyard, but just enough richness to hold the edginess in check - probably ends up an actual medium-weight Pinot. It's all Russian River - bright fruit, enough earth to be interesting - but no mistaking this for Burgundy. Moreish. Ready now, might hold up another few years - but why wait?

2013 vintage

I really love Freeman's pinots. Great balance of fruit to acidity. Balanced. Layered and finished smooth and lingers nicely.

2013 vintage

Drank at a restaurant. Needed a half hour plus to open up. I would open this one before dinner in order to get the best experience right now.

2015 vintage

So distinctive. Light and tangy, with some bright red strawberry balancing out the darker fruit. Zingy Pinot Noir, wonderfully made from superb fruit. Still lots of vibrancy in late '16, but might not have the weight that implies ageworthiness - ready to drink now.

2013 vintage

Red fruit on the nose, the palate is strawberry, dark cherry and star anise, the finish brings out cinnamon and nutmeg and is long and smooth.

2013 vintage

Absolutely singing in late '16. Distinctive in the usual Keefer way - lively, with a bit of an edge, but layers underneath if you look for them. A superb wine that's great this young. I don't know that it has the heft or complexity for a long maturity, but should have another 3-4 years of excellence in it.

2013 vintage

A step up in concentration and structure from the Sonoma Coast bottling. The Keefer Ranch from Freeman is ripe dark cherry, cola, nutmeg. A little higher acidity and tannin than the Sonoma to go along with the slightly riper fruit here. Lots of dry extraction. This deserves aging. Drinks to me like a Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru.

2013 vintage

dark red cherry fruit aromas. big and ripe aromas. palate is much more balanced. super suave palate with out being too weighty.

2013 vintage

From a magnum, fruit on the nose, the palate was strawberry, rhubarb and a touch of cherry with nice hint of spices. A really nice finish made this a very enjoyable bottle of wine.

2006 vintage

Medium dark cherry red color; floral, rosehips, tart strawberry nose; floral, rosehips, tart strawberry, baked strawberry palate with near medium acidity; medium-plus finish 91+ points

2013 vintage

Drank at a restaurant. No decant, but was open for a half hour to 45 minutes before drinking. The experience was level through dinner and did not improve. It looked like a light PN, but drank like a heavier one. It is consistent with prior Freeman/Keefer offerings I have tasted. The rating might be a little higher than what I have noted. Also, I believe it will improve with a little aging. Was a great wine for the seafood oriented …

2013 vintage

Even better than the last bottle with more delineated fruit, lively acidity , and splendid finish.

2006 vintage

Delicious strawberries and earthy funk on the nose and palate with hints of spice with a tasty finish .

2006 vintage

Opened and splashed decanted. Served with a roasted chicken. This was the first bottle of the evening and the best, showing red cherry fruit with deep flavor and depth. Wonderful balance with verve. Very Good. Unfortunately, my last bottle of this vintage.

2006 vintage

I finally decided to listen to my own advice and decanted this for 1.5 hours. Fragrant floral nose; light to medium weight in body; cherry and raspberry notes that ends with a subtle citrus finish. Really elegant and refined. Very Good to Excellent. Paired well with salmon; paired really well with a side dish of carrots cooked in orange juice and ginger.

2006 vintage

Consistent with review from Richard Jennings below.

2006 vintage

Popped today as the other was an off bottle. Same note as 9/4.

2006 vintage

Opened and decanted for about an hour. Pretty nose but dry and tight. As it started to open it started to taste like it's flawed. Put back in the bottle to re-visit tomorrow. This was my 2nd glass of wine after being dry for 4 weeks following surgery. As a result I don't quite trust my palate and sense memory. Worse on day 2.

2006 vintage

Medium dark cherry red color; big cherry, brown sugar, baked cherry nose; tasty, ripe cherry, black raspberry, baked raspberry palate with good acidity; medium finish 91+ pts.

2006 vintage

Opened and decanted approximately 1 hour. Dark sappy black cherry fruit that ends with a dry finish. This never really seemed to open up. It was Good but I was hoping it would be rounder and fuller. This tasted "narrow" to me.

2006 vintage

Opened not decanted. 3rd bottle of the evening. Soft floral and strawberry notes on the nose; plush red cherry on the palate; ends with a drying finish. If it wasn't so dry I would like it better. Good+

2006 vintage

Popped and poured and consumed with Tom Colicchio's whole roast chicken, asparagus and sweet potato. The nose showed a little orange rind, earth and dark cherries. On the palate a little more earth, slight citrus quality, dark cherries and cranberries and a little wet stone acidity lurking underneath. Very enjoyable now but could have used a couple hours in the decanter. Went well with the chicken.

2006 vintage

Decanted 1 hour. It grew more enjoyable as I sipped. Might be better tomorrow.

2006 vintage

Cherry and cranberry glide across the palate from this silky, smooth pinot. High toned with good acidity and delicate background flavors of orange pith, rose and tea. Drinking nicely now, but presently lacks the depth and complexity to make it truely memorable. Drink now-2014. 87? pts.

2006 vintage

This was served at the Pinot Days single vineyard tasting on Saturday, June 27. I tasted this at the event and also at home that night where we consumed 2 bottles with friends over dinner. From memory: dark saturated, black cherry notes, full and round mouthfeel with a slightly sweet / sour finish. Terrific wine. Very Good to Excellent. Tastes like it's just entering it's drinking window.

2006 vintage

2009 Pinot Days Seminar Producer Spotlight: Ed Kurtzman and his wines (Fort Mason, San Francisco, California) : Medium cherry red color with pale meniscus; tart strawberry, rhubarb, sous bois and roses nose; tart strawberry, rhubarb and red fruit palate with grip; medium-plus finish

2006 vintage

Excellent example of a Russian River pinot noir,from a terrific vineyard. Not yet terribly aromatic (seemed young, and I just popped and poured), but very well balanced, with pretty red cherry fruit.

2006 vintage

A very good wine that was everything a good pinot should be. There was good, slightly restrained, fruit of strawberry and raspberry, and a perfect balance. The nose had distinct pinot noir characteristics: barnyard and sharp red fruit. However, we felt it lacked the complexity, structure and long finish to make this bottle worth over $50.

2006 vintage

Pinot Days (San Francisco, CA) : 89-90 points.

2006 vintage

Excellent wine. Lots of bright red berry fruit and cherry on the nose. Smooth round feel on the palate. A bit of wet earthy quality almost a sweatiness similar to that of goat cheese.

2006 vintage

Tart strawberry nose; very good, tart Burg-like, strawberry and mineral palate with good acidity; medium finish

2006 vintage

2nd Annual Freeman Caves Weekend for VinoCellar.com; 2/8/2008-2/10/2008 (Various Sonoma County Locations) : Served as part of the 2nd Annual Freeman Caves Weekend for VinoCellar.com. Strawberry notes with touches of peach (?); ending with an overall sweet profile and dry finish. Very Good to Excellent. A really terrific wine. Wine of the flight.

2006 vintage

An early look at this wine, which I believe is not yet released but this is a terrific bottle of pinot. I shouldn't be surprised as the wine was made by Ed Kurtzman, who for me just seems to be firing on all cylinders these days. Red fruit, apple, nectarine, acidity that expresses a lemon/lime feel. Delicious.

2006 vintage

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Freeman, Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch, Russian River Valley

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