Etude Wines Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Carneros Pinot Noir 2019 Red Wine

Etude Wines Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Carneros Pinot Noir 2019

Los Carneros AVA, CA

94 pts. James Suckling:

“Dried strawberries with spices, such as cloves and peppercorns, as well as some dried flowers. Medium to full body with a pretty core of ripe pinot, fine and linear tannins and a long, fresh finish. Needs time to open, but vibrant and attractive now. Drink after 2023.” - August 2021

92 pts. Wine Spectator:

“This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir opens with a blackberry, black raspberry and black tea bouquet with a hint of teaberry gum. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with plus acidity. It is also bright, juicy and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a black raspberry and clove blend with notes of black plum and licorice. I also detected hints of oolong tea and loamy earth mixed in. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins, acidity and flavors are nicely extended. This Pinot would pair well with beef bourguignon. Enjoy.” - James Molesworth, August 2021

Another knock-out Pinot Noir from the ultra-talented winemaker at Etude! This Carneros Pinot Noir really captures the essence of the unique terrior of the region. Rich and bold, but not excessive, it's simply a joy to drink! – Wine Factor

FROM THE WINERY

VINEYARDS AT GRACE BENOIST RANCH

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir hails from our estate vineyards tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation, just on the southwest corner of Sonoma. Unlike most of Carneros, which is largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of soils influenced by volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay make this site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties. The vineyard parcels at Grace Benoist Ranch conform to the various soil types and the changing contours of the Ranch topography. Individual vineyards average only eight acres in size and spacing is dense to ensure low per-vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. Grace Benoist Ranch is farmed to Etude’s exacting standards, using environmentally sound viticultural practices. The Ranch is sustainably farmed and certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance as well as Fish Friendly Farming. At the Ranch, there are four smaller vineyards (Laniger, Deer Camp, Temblor, and Heirloom) with five principal unique soil types and 20 distinct Pinot Noir clones.

2019 VINTAGE

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

The Carneros Estate Pinot Noir underwent cold maceration in small-lot, open-top fermenters with extended time on the skins and including a small number of whole clusters. Vineyard lots are vinified and aged individually, and final blending is subject to a rigorous selection process, whereby only the best casks are chosen to represent the Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Pinot Noir. The wine is aged in French Oak with a small percentage of new barrels.

TASTING NOTES

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.
SUSTAINABLE CERTIFICATIONS: California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Napa Green, Fish Friendly Farming

HARVEST DATES: September 9–24, 2019
ALC: 14.2%
p H : 3.69
TA: 5.4 g/L