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2018 Etude Laniger Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir

2018 Etude Laniger Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir

2018 Etude Laniger Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

This is an exciting Pinot Noir with layers of earthy character, saturation, structure and depth – all signatures of this extraordinary vineyard block. On the nose and palate, a plethora of red berry fruits, sour cherry and sweet baking spice notes of cinnamon and clove dance alongside more savory hints of tobacco and lifted anise seed. There is vibrant acidity leading to a mouth enveloping rich, round character that finishes long with tremendous complexity. A true standout, exhibiting the tremendous character of Pinot Noir from this exceptional vineyard location.

Technical Information

Varietal Pinot Noir
Vintage 2018
Appellation Grace Benoist Ranch
Blend 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol % 14.2%
Enclosure Type Cork

Scores & Accolades

  • 96

    JamesSuckling.com

    #68 in Top 100 Wines of 2020

    "Complex aromas of crushed berries and strawberries with flowers, tile and pine. Full-bodied with layers of fruit and very, very fine tannins. Flavorful finish. Transparent.” - James Suckling

  • 94

    Wine Advocate

    “The 2018 Pinot Noir Laniger is a new single-vineyard label coming from a site on the western edge of Grace Benoist Ranch, opposite from Deer Camp. It's all Dijon clone 115. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak, 25% new. Medium ruby-purple in color, the nose bursts with intense Morello cherries, black raspberries and redcurrants scents with nuances of bouquet garni, damp earth and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with silken tannins, beautiful poise and a seamless breeze of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. 324 cases were made.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

  • 93+

    Vinous

    “The 2018 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Laniger Vineyard is sourced from a parcel adjacent to Deer Camp, but eastern facing and with loamier soils, all of which yield a Pinot built on floral aromatics and more of a red-toned fruit profile. Deceptive in its mid-weight profile, the 2018 has terrific structural underpinning, along with a good bit of grip that needs time to soften.” - Antonio Galloni, March 2021

Winemaking

Winemaking

The grapes for this wine were harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity. They were placed in open-top fermenters for 3-5 days of cold maceration followed by fermentation. A small percentage of the grapes were left as whole cluster to preserve the buoyancy of aromatics of the fruit and to add structure and refinement to the wine. Punch downs were performed during the early stages of fermentation with the extraction becoming gentler as the wine became dry. A quiet extended maceration followed, helping to enhance the richness and mouthfeel of the wine. The wine was lightly pressed into French oak barrels (25% new) where it rested for 14 months. The wine was bottled with no fining or filtration and allowed to rest for another eight months prior to release.

Jon Priest - Winemaker

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.

Vintage

Vintage

In the micro-climate of the Carneros, a near perfect season was welcomed in 2018 after several tense vintages, beginning with abundant February rains followed by drying sun and weather that allowed for even flowering and bud break. The slightly later start was followed by consistently ideal weather, with harvest for Pinot Noir occurring in late August and early September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.

Vineyard

Carneros AVA

Carneros

Vineyard

The Laniger Vineyard is located on an opposing bench slope adjacent from our acclaimed Deer Camp vineyard, on the western edge of Grace Benoist Ranch. Here the soils are very well-drained alluvial Laniger loam, a volcanic fine sandy loam with gray to brown color and medium acidity levels, a result of the Rodgers Creek Fault line which runs near the vineyard. Laniger is more protected from the cooling Petaluma Gap but still benefits from proximity to the San Pablo Bay, allowing the fog to develop early and recede late in the day. The gradual slope here and moderate microclimate allows for even vine growth and ideal fruit ripening.

Winemaker Jon Priest

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