Cleary Ranch Pinot Noir 2016
Sonoma Coast
Reviews
93
JamesSuckling.com
An attractive array of brambly wildcherry
aromas lead to a palate that has
a succulent, restrained and vibrantly
elegant texture with juicy, lithe red
cherries. Impressive structural detail.
Drink or hold.
93
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Cleary Ranch The Settler has a nose of granite dust, tobacco leaf, crunchy cranberry and Bing cherry with soft potpourri touches. Light to medium-bodied, it's earthy and minerally in the mouth with soft, grainy tannins and a nuanced finish that segues from earth and swells into tart red fruits.
92
Vinous - Antonio Galloni
The 2016 Pinot Noir The Settler Cleary Ranch
Vineyard is an intriguing wine that nicely shows
off the Ernest house style. Crushed red berries, blood orange, chalk and mint give the Settler its distinctive upper register. The 2016 is a bit slender, but makes up for that with its energy, persistence and impeccable overall balance.
Downslope from his father's Freestone Hill Vineyard, John Cleary and his family have their own parcel of West Sonoma Coast vineyard land: this 6-acre plot. Curiously, this particular vineyard exhibits a lower-than-expected conversion rate - we see a full point lower from this parcel than we see from fruit picked 100 yards up the hill meaning longer hang times for more flavor with lower alcohol. Fruit from this vineyard exhibits all of the classic notes that make Freestone and West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir famous.
The deep garnet hue of this wine belies its provenance from Dijon clones 777, 667 and 115. The Freestone aromatics begin with rose hips and flesh out to nice broad red fruit notes of Rainier cherries and Santa Rosa plums. Subtle and fresh attack with very fine tannin that supports the rolling, seductive red fruit and finishes on perfectly balanced acid. This wine pulls you into the glass.
The deep garnet hue of this wine belies its provenance from Dijon clones 777, 667 and 115. The Freestone aromatics begin with rose hips and flesh out to nice broad red fruit notes of Rainier cherries and Santa Rosa plums. Subtle and fresh attack with very fine tannin that supports the rolling, seductive red fruit and finishes on perfectly balanced acid. This wine pulls you into the glass.
| Region | Freestone | |
| Appellation | Sonoma Coast | |
| Vineyard | Cleary Ranch | |
| Farming Method | Sustainable | |
| Aging/Cooperage | 37% New French Oak | |
| Release Date | Spring 2019 | |
| Alcohol | 12.2% | |
| Production | 319 cases |