Lot Overview
- Region: 100% West Sonoma Coast (Freestone-Occidental) — 40% Occidental Vineyard, 60% Cleary Ranch
- Vintage: 2025
- Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
- Oak Aging: 40% new French oak
- Alcohol: 12.5%, pH 3.35, Malic <0.01 g/L, Lactic 1.0 g/L
- Cases Available: ~300
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149/case)
- Retail Estimate: $95–150/bottle (blend of two single-vineyard tiers)
- Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Occidental Vineyard + Cleary Ranch (confirmed by Cam; same producer as Lot 85)
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Ernest Vineyards
- Drink Window: 2026–2034 (peak 2027–2031)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Lot 83 is sourced from Ernest Vineyards, the same producer as the gorgeous Lot 85 West Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Lot 83 is a combination of two lots originally bottled as single-vineyard designates retailing for $150 and $95/bottle. Each lot was absolutely stand-alone quality but, the simple fact is, they were better together. The producer wound down their operations earlier this year and we have acquired most of their wines in barrel.
Occidental Vineyard (40% of blend, $150/bottle): 5 acres along Taylor Lane, just above the Pacific Ocean. Planted decades ago by the Dutton family on Goldridge and Yorkville loam. Coastal redwoods frame the vineyard, fog drifts in early and departs late, slowing ripening. Pinot Noir from this site shows red fruit, rose petal, tea leaf, and coastal spice. Galloni: 95-97 points, “the best wine I have tasted from Ernest Vineyards.” Dunnuck: 96 points for 2021 and 2022.
Cleary Ranch (60% of blend, $95/bottle): 14 acres in foggy Freestone Valley, only 7 miles from the Pacific — one of the coldest areas in west Sonoma Coast. Goldridge soil with clay peppering near Salmon Creek. Vinous: 93-94 points for 2021/2022. Dunnuck: 96 points for 2021/2022.
Tasting Notes
Pale ruby with a brilliant magenta hue around the rim. Aromatically effusive and stunning with a complex array of earthy, savory black cherry, rose petal, Earl Grey tea, red clay, wild raspberry, coriander and wet river stone. Vibrant and mouthwatering on entry with wild raspberry and pretty cherry notes perfectly attenuated over vibrant, mineral-laced, uber-fresh tannins. Gorgeously elegant, medium-bodied and super fresh and crunchy with incredible energy and verve, finishing long with excellent length, tremendous complexity, delicate nuance, and exceptional purity.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Allow late 2026 minimum — 12.5% alc and extreme cool-climate structure need integration time.
Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Occidental Vineyard (40%) + Cleary Ranch (60%) (confirmed by Cam; same producer as Lot 85)
Fully confirmed by Cam — no identification required. This continues the Ernest Vineyards arc that began with Lot 4 (Freestone Ridge Vineyard) and continued through Lot 85 (Mariola Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay), now extending into their top-tier Pinot Noir program following the winery’s 2025/2026 closure. Both named vineyards — Occidental and Cleary Ranch — are extremely well-regarded West Sonoma Coast sites with serious critical pedigree (Galloni’s 95-97 on Occidental being among the highest scores Ernest ever received).
✅ Confidence: Confirmed — producer and both vineyards named directly by Cam.
Drink Window
Early: Late 2026 — extreme cool-climate acidity (pH 3.35, near-zero malic) needs integration time post-bottling.
Peak: 2027–2031. West Sonoma Coast Pinot at 12.5% alc from these legendary sites has a genuine Burgundian arc.
Hold: 2034. The structure and pedigree from both vineyards support graceful aging through the decade.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: Late 2026–2034 (peak 2027–2031)