Lot 99 is the 2023 Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir from Ernest Vineyards — the same producer as Lot 83, confirmed directly by Cam — earning 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck and released alongside Lot 98 as a pair of Ernest Vineyards shiners. Claude’s source guess is Ernest Vineyards, confirmed by Cam. See also: Lot 4, Lot 82, Lot 83, Lot 84, Lot 85, Lot 98.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% West Sonoma Coast (Cleary Ranch, Freestone Valley, Goldridge soil with clay, organically farmed)
- Vintage: 2023
- Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
- Oak Aging: 40% new French oak puncheons
- Alcohol: 12.3%, Brix at harvest: 21
- Cases Available: Not stated (shiner format)
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149/case)
- Retail Estimate: $95/bottle (tasting room)
- Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast (confirmed by Cam; same producer as Lot 83)
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: Late 2026–2035 (peak 2027–2032)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Email:
Howdy Folks,
OHHH boy, you are not gonna believe what I have for you today!
This one just came over the transom folks. I’ve only got a couple pallets of each so you’ll want to move quickly.
On offer today are two single-vineyard designate 2023 SHINERS from Ernest Vineyards. The wines are absolutely fantastic, top-of-the-line, $85-$95/bottle offerings both now INSANELY priced at just $149/case!
Before we dive into the details I need to clarify something: what I am offering you today is not to be confused with the entry-level, $38/bottle Ernest Vineyards Sonoma Coast bottlings you see in the marketplace now being discounted and closed out. I have passed on those wines. What you are getting here is the good stuff (I know from the producer, but you will know when you pick up a bottle, high-end closures and very different, heavy glass versus the entry-level bottlings).
Also on offer is Lot 99 2023 West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This is the 2023 Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir bottling which retails for $95/bottle out of the tasting room. The producer has 96-point scores for their 2021 and 2022 vintages from Jeb Dunnuck and a 94-point score from the Wine Enthusiast for the 2022 vintage (which is an accomplishment given how hot 2022 was), but the 2023 was the best of them all (and, yes, I have tasted them side-by-side). Like the Chardonnay, this Pinot Noir is another gorgeous, nervy, energetic wine that unfolds beautifully in the glass. Absolutely fantastic and an incredible steal at $149/case!
Site Notes
CURRENTLY IN SHINER FORMAT — LABELING PLANNED LATE SEPTEMBER
Lot 99 2023 West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a shiner sourced from the same producer I recently sourced Lot 83 2025 Pinot Noir. This is their 2023 Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir bottling which retails for $95/bottle out of the tasting room.
The producer has 96-point scores for their 2021 and 2022 vintages from Jeb Dunnuck and a 94-point score from the Wine Enthusiast for the 2022 vintage (which is an accomplishment given how hot 2022 was), but the 2023 was the best of them all (and, yes, I have tasted them side-by-side).
The only other review I was able to find was for their other Pinot Noir bottling, a 95-97-point score for a barrel sample of the ’23 Occidental Vineyard Pinot from Antonio Galloni @Vinousmedia: “95-97 points – The 2023 Pinot Noir Occidental Vineyard is sensational. Deep, vertical and explosive, it dazzles from start to finish.”
Not totally germane as it is another bottling, but an indicator of the quality of the 2023 single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from Ernest Vineyards. Like the Chardonnay, this is another gorgeous, nervy, energetic wine that unfolds beautifully in the glass.
About The Wine
Deep purple and luminescent in the glass, this Pinot Noir captures the full character of the Cleary Ranch in Freestone — a fog-draped coastal site where cool Pacific air and loamy soil combine precision and power. The nose is highly perfumed, opening with decadent notes of heritage red rose, raspberry, and cherry compote. The palate is exuberant yet balanced, delivering salted strawberry, Amarena cherry, and a subtle earthiness edged with dried tarragon and wood spice. Concentrated yet elegant, with silky tannins, the wine marries floral lift with site-driven depth. It drinks beautifully now but is built to age, embodying both the exuberance and refinement of the coast at its finest.
About The Vineyard
Cleary Ranch encompasses the 14 acres of Ernest’s vines in foggy Freestone Valley. Only 7 miles from the Pacific, it is one of the coldest areas in all of west Sonoma Coast with the marine layer lingering well into mid-day and returning late afternoon. Goldridge soil with clay peppering closer to Salmon Creek. The extremely cool climate allows for extended hang time before harvest delivering deep complexity. Farmed organically, this site reflects our commitment to stewarding the land with care.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Currently in shiner format — labeling planned late September 2026. Allow until late 2026 minimum after bottling.
Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast (confirmed by Cam)
Cam confirms this directly — same producer as Lot 83, specifically their Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir bottling. This is now the sixth Ernest Vineyards lot in the CAM X catalog (Lots 4, 82, 83, 84, 85, 98, and now 99), making Ernest Vineyards the second most prolific single source in the catalog after Krupp Brothers. The 2023 Cleary Ranch earned 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck on previous vintages, and Cam describes the 2023 as the best yet. The 12.3% alcohol and West Sonoma Coast coastal character make this one of the most elegant reds in the entire CAM X catalog — a genuine Burgundian Pinot Noir experience from one of California’s most celebrated cool-climate sites.
✅ Confidence: Confirmed — producer and vineyard named directly by Cam.
Drink Window
Early: Late 2026 — currently in shiner, labeling planned September 2026, needs integration time post-bottling.
Peak: 2027–2032. Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir at 12.3% alc with 40% new French oak puncheons has a genuine Burgundian aging arc.
Hold: 2035. The 96-point Dunnuck pedigree and cool-climate site-specific acidity support a solid decade.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: Late 2026–2035 (peak 2027–2032)