Ernest Vineyards Pinot Noir Cleary Ranch 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$74.99
Description
One of the coldest corners of the Freestone Valley sits behind this bottling, the home ranch for Ernest and the site they almost always pick last. Certified organic as of 2022, Cleary Ranch pushes ripening deep into autumn, and in 2023 that meant a harvest that didn't begin until October and ran well into November. All that hang time yet a lean 12.3% alcohol tells you a lot about the place: a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir built on complexity rather than sugar and heat.
The aromatics lean elegant and savory, with bay leaf and wet earth framing just-ripe strawberry and a lick of spice. The palate is still coiled and a bit reticent, showing fresh thyme, a distinct saline edge, and pomegranate and wild berry underneath. High-toned and focused, it reads as a wine that will reward patience and reflects its cold coastal roots at every turn.</
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Sonoma Coast |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Producer | Ernest |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Cleary Ranch is the home base for Ernest, certified organic in 2022 but held in their hands since the very beginning. Located in one of the coldest pockets of the Freestone Valley, it is almost always their last site to be picked. The 2023 vintage truly shows the extreme character of the ranch; harvest didn’t even begin until October 3rd and stretched all the way to November 8th. Despite that massive hang time, the wine sits at a lean 12.3% alcohol, capturing deep complexity without the sugar spike. The aromatics are incredibly elegant, led by notes of bay leaf, wet soil, and just-ripe fresh strawberries with a touch of spice. On the palate, the wine is still a bit tight, but is showing great savory layers of fresh thyme and a distinct saltiness over pomegranate juice and wild berries. It’s a wine built for the long haul - focused, high-toned, and deeply reflective of its coastal roots. (Decanter, November 2025)