2022 Ernest Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

A fresh and clean pinot with some floral notes, burnt stem and hints of nutmeg. It’s medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a savory and delicious finish.

The scores don't lie on this one, this is truly top-notch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir sourced from some of the very best vineyards in the region. The core of this wine comes from Cleary Ranch in the coastal town of Freestone. The site is just 7 miles from the ocean, is one of the coolest in California. It receives daily fog and cold winds meaning the daytime highs rarely exceed 75 degrees. The vines grow in Goldridge soils and produce tiny clusters of intensely flavorful fruit. The next element of the wine comes from the aptly named Grand Vent Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. This extremely windy, exposed, hillside vineyard sits at the mouth of the Petaluma wind gap, a break in the coastal range that allows cold air and fog to funnel in from Bodega Bay. The extremely long, moderate growing season here allows for wonderful flavor development and physiological ripeness without high alcohol. The third element of the wine comes from a little further inland in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker Joseph Ryan takes the ultra-cool climate fruit from Freestone and blends it with a parcel of Swan Clone Pinot Noir from the Laguna Ridge sub-region. This small area, home to iconic producers such as Joseph Swan and Kistler, produces powerful, rich, Pinot Noir that perfectly complements the more elegant, floral, high-toned fruit from the coastal sites. The resulting wine is stunning, one of my favorite expressions of true Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir I've tasted in many months, and absolutely unbeatable at our Insider's Advantage price. There's literally no other Pinot Noir in the store that I can recommend over this for the price. A perfect blend of pristine forest berries, black raspberry, alpine herbs, hard ground spices like nutmeg and clove. The bright, crunchy floral tones on the attack morph into some richer dark cherry fruit on the mid-palate, with sous bois, and leaf litter savory elements, too. Layered, complex, and ultimately delicious. The wine has a fine balance that really shows off the quality of fruit and winemaker's deft and dexterous skills weaving the elements together so seamlessly. This is set to be a huge favorite here at K&L for staff and customers alike. I have already recommended this to many people with great feedback and have bought some for my own enjoyment over the next few years, it's just too good to miss.