Ernest Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023

Agricultural roots run deep with the team from Ernest Vineyards. All three key leadership roles are filled by folks who grew up in farming towns across the country. The team shares a genuine appreciation for and love of the land, bred into those whose hands are in the soil from a young age. From rural Texas to the central valley of California to a farm in Iowa, proprietors Erin Brooks, Todd Gottula, and winemaker Joseph Ryan understand the fruitful rewards of hard work in the field. While they didn’t grow up in a vineyard, nor did they start their early careers in wine or grape growing, they all found their way back to agriculture and into the world of viticulture. In 2012, Erin & Todd started Ernest Vineyards, drawing inspiration from the Sonoma Coast and focusing on sustainability. Joseph joined the team in 2018 to lead winemaking and vineyard management, and they continue to craft Burgundian-style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs while championing the West Sonoma Coast.

Sustainability practices for Ernest extend from vineyard to bottle, with thoughtful decision-making throughout the entire pipeline. They farm 35 acres of vineyards across Sonoma, implementing certified organic and regenerative techniques and dry-farming wherever possible. Half of the equipment used for farming, such as tractors, is fully electric, and the estate features a commercial, organic vegetable garden for the entire team to enjoy throughout the seasons. Their sense of stewardship extends to the independent grape growers whom they choose to source additional fruit that organically farm their vineyards. Six years ago, Ernest began using a local natural wax producer for their enclosures and moved to bottling in the lightest, recycled glass available on the market.

The 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir blends the most fruit-forward barrels from their vineyards in Freestone-Occidental and Petaluma Gap. A native yeast fermentation kicked off with a small portion of the stems included for texture before aging in 25% new French oak barrels for nine months. “This wine reveals a mouth-watering acidity followed by a touch of salty cherry, earthy notes, and berries compote. The low alcohol level allows for a clear and pure expression of the maritime influence on the sites, which is revealed in its focus and precision, plus the savory character derived from the judicious use of stems. The mouthfeel is fuller than expected with great generosity of fruit and terroir nuances, framed by firm but ripe tannins and a lingering juicy aftertaste.” ~ Joseph Ryan