Varietal | Chardonnay |
---|---|
Vintage | 2016 |
Appellation | Carneros |
Blend | 100% Chardonnay |
Alcohol % | 13.6% |
Enclosure Type | Cork |
"The 2016 Chardonnay Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Grown is another classy, polished wine from Etude. Bright citrus and lightly tropical notes add nuance to this barrel-aged Chardonnay. Blocking the malolactic fermentation keeps the flavors tight and nicely focused." - Antonio Galloni, December 2018
"The 2016 Chardonnay Grace Benoist Ranch is composed of 100% Chardonnay aged in neutral French oak for 11 months. It has a toasty nose of fresh bread and roasted almonds over a core of apple pie and warm apricots plus a waft of ginger. Medium-bodied, the palate has a silken texture and plenty of pure, unadulterated fruit, finishing savory." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, October 2018
The 2016 vintage was challenging, with the impact of our continuing drought requiring a deft touch in the vineyard, although there was some winter rain that helped recharge much needed groundwater. Bud break was early in February, and the march toward harvest continued through the season, with fruit arriving about two weeks earlier than normal. Shatter resulted in some blocks with lower yields, but the warm, mild growing days led to fruit with abundant flavor, good acidity and balance.
A true reflection of Grace Benoist Ranch estate vineyard, this wine is a blend of the best blocks on the Ranch, tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation. Unlike most Carneros vineyards, which are largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils of Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to San Pablo Bay, makes this cooler site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties. Vineyard blocks are individually managed to conform to various soil types and the changing contours of the topography. Individual vineyards within Grace Benoist Ranch average only eight acres in size and spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. As stewards of the property, Etude remains steadfast in our commitment to adhere to sustainable agricultural practices that enable us to farm in concert with the surrounding environment. Wildlife corridors, raptor roosts and owl boxes are abundant throughout the Ranch.
To create a better experience for you across all of our brands, we’ll check this info with accounts across the Treasury Wine Estates Portfolio of brands: Beringer, Beaulieu Vineyard, Etude, Hewitt Vineyard, Stags' Leap Winery, Sterling Vineyards, Penfolds, and The Wine Shop.
Success! An email has been sent to your inbox with a link to reset your password