Freeman Ryo-Fu Chardonnay 2021

Ryo-fu, which translates to “cool breeze” in Japanese, aptly describes this Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The wine’s character is shaped by the brisk winds originating from the Pacific Ocean. Our local ryo-fu, combined with the region’s renowned fog and sandy loam soil, establishes the perfect growth environment for this vineyard. Fortunately, the year 2021 witnessed a smoke-free vintage for the entire coastal California region, representing the first instance since 2016 where virtually no wildfires affected Sonoma wine country. This contrasts with the challenges of 2020 when smoke jeopardized the vineyards across the entire county. Despite managing to produce a limited quantity of Ryo-fu in 2020, the year 2021 signifies a return to our customary production scale.

The 2021 Freeman Ryo-fu Chardonnay features a light gold color and a fruit-forward nose of Fuji apples, nutmeg, honey, and orange zest. It’s distinguished as one of our fuller-bodied Chardonnays, presenting a complete palate of ripe stone fruit, lemon cream, and marzipan. Its robust acidity on the finish ensures that this Ryo-fu will exhibit its excellence from 2023 through 2029.