For many years, Joseph Phelps Vineyards have set rather than followed trends in Napa so it was no surprise when they began to look beyond the Napa Valley for their next venture. For us in Europe with smaller distances between cities, it is logical to consider California as one unified region, however nothing could be further from the truth. The differences between the warm to hot Napa Valley and Freestone Winery's location, the cooler Sonoma Coast, are striking, as are the differences between the Sonoma Coast and the very hot Sonoma County appellation further inland. Indeed, in wine growing terms, Sonoma Coast is considered marginal for Chardonnay, cool enough that consistent full ripeness cannot be taken for granted, with rolling banks of fog coming in from the sea giving damp, moisture-laden days which provide additional challenges for the vine growers.
Freestone is far from standing still, having embraced biodynamic viticulture in their 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay. The vineyards are managed along organic and bio-dynamic principles, whilst a state-of-the-art, gravity-flow winery has been built in the middle of the vineyard to minimise both the effects of transport on the grapes and the Freestone carbon footprint.
The coastal location means that cold fogs roll in from the sea tempering the hot Californian sun, giving the grapes a long growing season and leading to aromatic, layered Pinots reminiscent of Burgundy. The chilly climate is almost too extreme for Chardonnay, which produces lovely sinuous, racy whites with firm acidity behind the plump white fruits. Given the youth of the vines, the intensity of flavour is already outstanding, and the wines are beginning to garner some serious critical praise. There are two levels of wine from the Freestone vineyard – the charmingly named Fog Dog wines which are for drinking soon after production and the top cuvées: Freestone Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
“Under winemaker Theresa Heredia, Joseph Phelps’ Freestone Vineyard in Freestone, on the Sonoma Coast, turns out Pinot Noirs with Californian fruitiness and Burgundian minerality. Like other producers in this developing area, Freestone’s viticulture and winemaking have been works in progress, starting in 1999, and 10 years later finding the right clones and rootstocks for the environment. Freestone’s success, previously projected for the future, is now.”
Linda Murphy, Decanter MagazineClick here for an article on Theresa Heredia - "Winemaker to Watch"
The 2009 Growing Season
Sonoma Coast
The 2009 growing season on the Sonoma Coast was classic and typical, with no real extremes of frost, cold or heat. A damp start to the season ensured a good hydric base for the vines, with budburst and flowering occurring as they should with no dramas. August was average, with cool nights and foggy days, leading up to the September warmth required to ripen the fruit fully. The 2009 season was particularly marked by this cool regularity which has produced fine, linear wines with fabulous definition and balance.
The Wines - please call us on 01353 721 999 for availability
Fog Dog Chardonnay 2009
Deepish gold with a gorgeously alluring nose of white fruits, buttery, toasty and plump, leading to a palate of fresh, grilled white stone fruits (greengage, white peach), layered, rich clean and pure with a lovely long, lemony finish. Instant gratification! From 2012
Freestone Chardonnay 2009
Paler gold with fresh, tight, lactic white fruits on the nose restrained with a very distant hint of tropical notes. On the palate, fresh again with light tropical fruits, still very restrained and held in check, beautifully linear and pure with a lovely zip of acidity and an incredibly long finish. Very much for the longer term. From 2015
Fog Dog Pinot Noir 2009
Pale red to rim with evolving, farmyard red fruits on the nose, with fresh raspberry notes too. Very classic Pinot Noir. Rich, concentrated red and black fruits on the palate with light floral hints, fresh, juicy with lively acidity and nice depth, ready to drink now but will also keep and evolve. From 2012
Freestone Pinot Noir 2008
Deeper red black, limpid to the rim, with a sweet, tarry, red fruit nose and a distant hint of new wood, more New World in style than the Fog Dog. Rich, ripe, juicy black and red fruits on the palate, strawberries, raspberries and some sloe notes with intense, racy, refreshing tannins behind. Despite the New World style of nose, this is in the classic Burgundian mould and is very fine indeed. From 2015
Freestone in the Press
Fogdog Pinot Noir 2008
89 points
Firm, intense and vivid, with complex blueberry, wild berry, spice, fresh earth and spicy, cedary notes. Full-bodied, young... this is slow to unfold, but does so gracefully. - J.L.Wine Spectator, April 30th 2011
Fogdog Pinot Noir 2008
Year's Best Pinot Noir, 89 points and Best Buy
Dark in tone, this has a sweet, juicy raspberry rasp... Itʼs solidly built, lightening up in the end to match grilled salmon steaks. - Wines & Spirits, April 2011Fog Dog Pinot Noir 2007
Offers a vivid array of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry fruit that's intense, ripe and rich without being heavy. Full-bodied, but light and delicate, gaining finesse and ending with a long finish of berry fruit. Drink now through 2016. 2,700 cases made.
- J.L. Wine Spectator, 90 Points
Freestone Pinot Noir 2007
A fresh, elegant and pure nose of extract of red pinot fruit that does carry a whiff of crushed leaf as well as a discreet spice component that is followed by suave, detailed and lightly mineral-suffused middle weight flavors that display a lovely sense of underlying restraint and excellent length on the dusty and sappy finish. This is more Burgundian in style as there is a touch of back end austerity that allows this to be quite food friendly. Worth a look. 91/2013+
Burghound, April 2010
Freestone Pinot Noir 2007
Good full red. Pungent herbs and spices lift blackberry and violet aromas. Juicy, ripe and spicy, with noteworthy energy to the red berry flavors. Nicely combines sweetness and grip, finishing long and bright, with suave tannins. 92 Points May-June 2010
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May-June 2010
Freestone Chardonnay 2008
93 points
A stylish cool-climate Chardonnay, intense, crisp, vibrant and concentrated, with subtle citrus and pippin apple notes giving it a juicy sensation. Ends with slate and mineral notes that are firm and focused, reverberating on the finish. Drink now through 2018. - J.L. Wine Spectator Insider, 9th February 2011
Freestone Chardonnay 2008
Spry and sprightly, tight and well-fruited, so youthful that it could pass for a 2009... it shows keenly focused green apple, stony, citrus fruit tones and a carefully laid-on layer of rich oak. 95 points. Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, March 2011
Fogdog Chardonnay 2008
90 Points
Marked by big, sharp acidity, like biting into a lime, and clean, linear flavors of limes, green apples and pineapples... -S.H. Wine Enthusiast, March 2011
Fogdog Chardonnay 2008
Here is a firm and very vital young Chardonnay that shows the desired virtues to be had when measured ripeness is met by cool-climate structure. Keenly focused on appley fruit and enriched by a careful complement of sympathetic oak... It can be enjoyed now with sundry seafoods...
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, March 2011
Freestone Chardonnay 2007
"Sleek and spicy, with a mix of tangerine, citrus and orange zest that's intense, vibrant, complex and earthy. Full-bodied, offering floral scents and a hint of mineral. Drink now through 2016." Wine Spectator, 91 points.
"These two Chardonnays, from the new Phelps-developed effort out near the Pacific Ocean in an area that seems certain to gain great fame for its deep yet tight and complex wines, are nothing short of stellar accomplishments. They have succeeded in being deep and layered without resorting to high ripeness, and they possess the enlivening acidity that has become part and parcel of the new Chardonnay paradigm in California. This wine comes with a slight haze in its appearance and, like the best efforts of that genre, its fruit is sweet and pulpy, deep and vital all at the same time. Long, fruity, tart and promising to gain greater range over time, this wine is about as good as it gets and joins a very select list of our favorite wines." the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
For marketing queries, please contact Laura Taylor on 01353 721 608 or at laura@privatecellar.co.uk.
To find out more about the winery, please visit http://www.jpvfreestone.com/
Click here to read about Joseph Phelps Vineyards
