2021 ERNEST ESTATE SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR Making a splash in Sonoma County's Pinot Noir scene, Ernest Vineyards sources grapes from seven cool-climate sites in Sonoma County, artfully blending the diversity of this wondrous AVA from the Pacific coastline to the rolling coastal ranges. Ernest Estate nestles within the Freestone Valley, a region profoundly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, with cold temperatures and fog consistently enveloping the vineyards, reaping ideal fruit with robust structure and elegant restraint. Winemaker Joseph Ryan prefers neutral oak barrels to highlight the essence and finesse of Pinot Noir with vibrant acidity and a nearly endless finish. The 2021 vintage yielded a limited 325 cases and was aged in French oak, enabling the exquisite transparency and pristine purity of the terroir to shine through. WINERY NOTES: The Ernest Estate is anchored in the heart of the Freestone Valley, an area deeply defined by the extreme cold temperatures and blanketing fog from the chilly Pacific Ocean. The challenging growing conditions reward with wines of structure and restraint. A beautiful ruby color wine with light hints of pink. Aromatically it greets the nose with a burst of bing cherries and summer strawberries, followed by notes of red roses. On the palate, it delivers even more complexity with the fruit profile being wrapped in layers of silky tannins and marked acidity. There’s a bright aspect to the wine that at first, but soon after the mouthfeel goes broader. The winemaking highlights the fruit’s elegance and finesse by exercising restraint on the use of oak.