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2018 Temblor Vineyard Pinot Noir

2018 Temblor Vineyard Pinot Noir

Carneros750ml 14.1

The Temblor Vineyard Pinot Noir, the second vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from the Etude Estate Vineyards at Grace Benoist Ranch. These vineyards are tucked away in the far northwest corner of ...

The Temblor Vineyard Pinot Noir, the second vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from the Etude Estate Vineyards at Grace Benoist Ranch. These vineyards are tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation and feature well-drained, rocky upland soils. The site includes six different soil types and a wide variety of topographical features, and the vineyard parcels were customized to conform to the various soil types and the changing contours of the topography. The diverse sites on this beautiful property allow us to highlight certain portions of the vineyard by illustrating the variations of wine character attributable to different soil series and microclimates.

  • Alcohol 14%
$95.00
$95.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2018
  • Region: Carneros
  • Appelation: Carneros
  • ABV: 14.1
  • Varietal: Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes

A rich, round and savory “cooler climate” Pinot Noir with incredible tension and minerality. There are layers of ripe black cherry, black raspberry and deep plum alongside nuances of mocha, dark chocolate and wild chaparral notes of sage and thyme. On the palate, an earthy, savory character continues, presenting a tea leaf and olive tapenade character, ending with a mineral note. A full-bodied expression of Grace Benoist Ranch that is elegant and impressive with tons of depth, complexity and finesse.

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Expert reviews

94 POINTS

“Sweet berries with hints of freshly grated nutmeg on the nose, following through to a medium body with firm, creamy tannins that are polished and delicious. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two.” - James Suckling, August 2021

93 POINTS

“The 2018 Pinot Noir Temblor Vineyard comes from "along the back door of the Petaluma Gap"—a very cool site. This is all Dijon clones, with no whole cluster used in the making of this wine. Medium ruby-purple colored, notions of cedar, earth, damp soil and sautéed herbs slowly emerge from the nose, followed by an intense perfume of cranberries, red roses, red cherries and ripe raspberries. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly crafted and fine-grained, featuring great tension and loads of mineral-laced berry layers, finishing long and earthy. Love it! 572 cases were made.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

The Vineyard

GRACE BENOIST RANCH

The Temblor Vineyard is located on a gradual slope that faces east within Grace Benoist Ranch Estate.  The soils here are very well-drained, with tightly packed volcanic boulders and cobbles braided throughout, a result of the Rodgers Creek Fault line which is adjacent to the vineyard.  Temblor is directly influenced by the cooling Petaluma Gap and San Pablo Bay, causing the fog to develop early and recede late in the day.  The gradual slopes and moderate microclimate allow for even vine growth and fruit ripening.

Process

The 2018 vintage

  • Napa & 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.

  • Sonoma Coast

    Hallberg sits in one of the coolest areas of Sonoma County. Cooler temperatures and moderate weather allowed grapes to ripen perfectly, developing deep complexity, intensity, ripeness and balance with a beautiful freshness that came naturally. There was little to no frost during the spring fruit set and no heat spikes throughout the growing season – all of which helped the grapes reach full maturity, with harvest occurring in mid-September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.

  • Willamette Valley

    The Yamhill-Carlton District of Willamette Valley experienced an almost return to normal vintage in 2018. The spring and summer were some of the warmest and driest on record, but with no heat spikes recorded, the season increased in length due to the cool autumn weather. That allowed grapes to hang and develop complex flavors on the vine, while retaining freshness and acidity. The characteristic of the vintage is rich Pinot Noir fruit, with fully developed flavors, and a richness of tannins that gave structure to the wines.

  • Santa Barbara

    What may be considered a ‘classic’ vintage, the wines from 2018 show tremendous intensity and complexity. Santa Barbara County provided a mild to warm summer, with a cooler autumn, allowing the grapes to remain on the vine until they reached ideal maturity. While the quality of the grapes was phenomenal, our overall yields were down slightly due to smaller berry size and clusters. The fruit was harvested in late September, yielding wines with beautifully balanced acidity, exceptional weight and texture, and complex varietal flavors.

Crafted Excellence

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.