The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate pours a rich ruby and offers pure, ripe aromas of fresh pine, black cherry, and toasted sage. This continues to the palate, with gorgeous ripe fruit that fills the palate with plush wild raspberry, smoky earth, and baking spice. Medium-bodied and long on the palate, with supple fruit up front and an excellent underlying structure, it’s drinking beautifully now but will benefit from another 6-12 months in bottle. It offers both immediacy and longevity. Drink 2023-2035.
95 Antonio Galloni - Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is a blend from the Cleary and Michael Vallentine ranches, both in Freestone. Bright and effusive, with striking depth, the 2021 is deep and beautifully layered right out of the gate. A rush of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange build into the rish, heady finish. The 33% stems are not especially evident. This is the best wine I have tasted from Ernest so far. It would be great to see more wines here in this direction.
