2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Ernest

Chardonnay 2023
Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

The 2023 Ernest Sonoma Coast Chardonnay pulses with coastal energy: brilliantly chiseled, refreshingly pure, and seamlessly composed, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the region’s most esteemed bottlings. Garnering a sensational 95-point rating, this Chardonnay effortlessly captures the elegance, minerality, and nuanced restraint synonymous with the region’s most coveted wines.

Ernest Vineyards, founded in 2012 by Erin Brooks, draws inspiration from Sonoma County’s rugged hillsides and rolling fog, giving a perfect setting for exceptional Chardonnay. With the arrival of winemaker Joseph Ryan in 2018, Ernest adopted a meticulous, minimal-intervention approach, celebrating the land’s unique voice and allowing its purest expression to illuminate every bottle.

Artfully crafted from the prized Old Wente clone, this Chardonnay boasts an alluring silkiness interwoven with crisp citrus notes. The 2023 vintage, fermented naturally with native yeasts and aged for ten months on lees in 25% new French oak, strikes a harmonious balance: beautifully textured yet vibrantly fresh. It is a wine that speaks eloquently of place, seamlessly blending depth, finesse, and unforgettable charm.

Ernest
Chardonnay 2023
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $38

Your Price: $36

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“A super lean, racy, mineral-driven wine, so fresh and linear and full of energy. Crisp green apples and lemon pith. Light-bodied and refreshing. At just 12% alcohol it’s easy to sip and enjoy multiple glasses. Fermented in oak barrels with native yeast and native malolactic for a slightly smoother texture. Drink now.”

95 Points

2023 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Ernest

Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Ernest continues to raise the bar with each vintage, and the 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may be their most impressive yet. Building on the success of the 2022—one of my top five wines of the year in 2024—the new release radiates precision, elegance, and coastal allure. Where Burgundian finesse meets the wild beauty of the Sonoma Coast, this wine delivers concentrated fruit, vivid acidity, and a striking sense of place.

Sourced from the fog-draped Freestone Valley and neighboring coastal vineyards, the wine owes its vibrancy to the region’s cool, ocean-tempered climate. Winemaker Joseph Ryan has embraced a low-intervention, site-driven approach, coaxing purity and nuance from every vintage. His attention to detail and deft touch allow the terroir to speak, with each bottling reflecting a distinct moment in time.

The 2023 Pinot Noir is the clearest expression yet of that vision. A blend of estate-grown fruit and select heritage sites, it pulses with energy—bright red berries, wild herbs, coastal salinity, all wrapped in silky tannins and a crystalline finish. At $38, it offers a rare combination of poise, purity, and pedigree—an exceptional discovery in this price tier.

Ernest
Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

Your Price: $38

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“The 2023 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is terrific. Rich and generous in the glass, with tons of savory nuance, the 2023 is a wonderfully complete wine. Cedar, dried herbs, new leather, tobacco and incense wrap around the palate. A healthy dose of stems (33%) adds complexity, but it’s the wine’s balance I admire most.”

92 Points

2022 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2022 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Ernest

Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma Coast

2022 Ernest Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Ernest Vineyards is where Burgundian elegance meets windswept Sonoma Coast fruit. Their Pinot Noirs, imbued with concentrated fruit, vibrant acidity, and a touch of coastal complexity, are truly captivating. The 2022 Ernest Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a prime example, earning a well-deserved spot among the year’s top five wines. Its seamless harmony, pure varietal expression, and refreshing quality far exceed its approachable price point, making it a standout for the year.

Nestled in the serene Freestone Valley, the Ernest Estate benefits from the ocean-kissed climate of the Sonoma Coast, where Pacific breezes and fog-laden mornings extend the growing season. Since joining Ernest Vineyards in 2018, winemaker Joseph Ryan has championed a philosophy of minimal intervention and meticulous craftsmanship, allowing each vintage to express its unique character with finesse and authenticity.

The 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a tribute to this commitment. This wine exudes energy and precision with a masterful blend of estate fruit and select parcels from renowned vineyards. Its vivid fruit profile, underpinned by vibrant acidity and coastal minerality, captures the pristine essence of the Sonoma Coast. At $38, it’s a truly exceptional offering.

Ernest
Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma Coast

Your Price: $38

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“This is a wonderful wine from Grand Vent, Cleary Ranch, the Michael Valentine vineyard from the Freestone Valley, and a Laguna vineyard that supplies the Swann clone. Red and black fruits are concentrated with stem inclusion, giving the wine a tremendous savoury backbone. The palate is redolent of cloves, red berries, and early-season black plums.”

95 Points