Penfolds
Bin 389
Cabernet Shiraz
Southbank, Australia

BOLD WINE STYLE

Etude
Carneros Pinot Noir
Carneros, California

MELLOW WINE STYLE

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir is a true reflection of the winery’s estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch. A blend of the best grapes from individual vineyard parcels on the Ranch, this wine tells the story of a particular vintage from a very unique place.

Vibrant and lively, this ethereal ruby red Pinot Noir is full of lifted red berry aromas alongside flavors of strawberry compote, Bing cherry, pink peppercorn, and delicate hibiscus flower with nuances of earth and spice. The mouthfeel is savory and rich with fine-grained tannins and finishes long and fresh with hints of cinnamon and clove, a signature characteristic often found in Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noirs. Silky and supple with a lean line of acidity, making it ideal for enjoying now, or cellar away, for further development of the complex layers of flavor.

Analysis: 14.2% alcohol / volume
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region & Appellation: Carneros
Critical Acclaim:

• 92 Points – James Molesworth, August 2021
• 94 Points – James Suckling, August 2021

The Vineyard:
The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir originates from their estate vineyards located in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation, near the southwest corner of Sonoma. Unlike the majority of Carneros, which features soils composed of clay from uplifted bay bottoms, the soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are diverse and influenced by volcanic origins. These well-drained, rocky upland soils, combined with the vineyard’s extreme western location near the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay, create an ideal environment for cultivating Burgundian varieties.

The vineyard parcels at Grace Benoist Ranch are carefully aligned with the diverse soil types and varying contours of the ranch’s topography. Each vineyard averages just eight acres, with dense spacing to promote low per-vine yields of intensely concentrated fruit. The ranch is farmed to Etude’s rigorous standards using environmentally responsible viticultural practices. It is sustainably managed and certified by both the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and Fish Friendly Farming. Grace Benoist Ranch encompasses four smaller vineyards—Laniger, Deer Camp, Temblor, and Heirloom—which feature five principal soil types and 20 distinct Pinot Noir clones.

Production:
The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years, mostly due to February rains, but because the vines were in their winter dormancy, it did not affect the 2019 crop. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. Wildfires in October did not impact this year’s harvest as the vast majority of the grapes were already brought in, resulting in a crop size pretty much on par with previous years.

Winemaking:
For more than a decade Jon has fashioned Etude wines with a simple creed: Inspired winegrowing diminishes the need for a winemaker to intervene in the cellar. Whether sourcing from the estate Grace Benoist Ranch in Sonoma’s Los Carneros, or vineyards like Fiddlestix and North Canyon in famed growing regions of California’s Central Coast, his focus is on coaxing the very best from the vineyard. It shows in every glass of Etude.

About the Winery:
Etude is located in the Carneros region, which is the only American Viticultural Area (AVA) located at the crossroads of two major regions: Napa and Sonoma. Los Carneros, named in tribute to the livestock that roamed its hills from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, was officially designated as an AVA in 1983. The year before, Etude was founded by winemaker Tony Sotor, whose leadership, along with the efforts of the Etude winemaking team, played a pivotal role in defining not only the boundaries of this new AVA but also the distinctive characteristics and quality of its grapes. These qualities continue to set Los Carneros apart from other AVAs in both Napa and Sonoma. As a cooler climate wine region, Los Carneros benefits from fog and maritime breezes flowing in from the Pacific through the San Pablo Bay and Petaluma Gap. This natural cooling slows vine growth and photosynthesis, allowing for a prolonged hang time that results in concentrated flavors, optimal sugar and phenolic ripeness, and balanced acidity in the grapes. To learn more about the winery, click here.

Information & Photos © Etude Winery – All Rights Reserved.

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