Ernest Vineyards Pinot Noir Cleary Ranch 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
Description
Some of the coldest ground in the Freestone Valley sits behind this bottling, a pocket of the Sonoma Coast so cool that its fruit is almost always the last to come in. Cleary Ranch is the home site for Ernest, farmed by their hands from the beginning and certified organic in 2022, and the 2023 growing season stretched the site to its extreme: picking didn't begin until early October and ran into November. That long hang gave depth without heat, and the wine lands at a lean 12.3% alcohol, deep in complexity but light on its feet.
The aromatics lean elegant and savory, with bay leaf, wet earth, and just-ripe strawberry threaded with a little spice. It's still tight in the glass, coiled rather than open, and shows fresh thyme, a distinct saline edge, and pomegranate and wild berry underneath. High-toned and focused, this is a Pinot built for patience, one that rewards cellaring and reflects its cold coastal home.
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)