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2021 Carneros Pinot Gris

2021 Carneros Pinot Gris

Carneros750ml

Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the harvest, with superior grape growing leading to wines with authentic varietal expression and a telling...

Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the harvest, with superior grape growing leading to wines with authentic varietal expression and a telling reflection of where they are grown and produced.

  • Alcohol 14%
$35.00
$35.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2021
  • Region: Carneros
  • Appelation: Carneros
  • Varietal: Pinot Gris

Tasting Notes

Pinot Gris from Alsace is one of winemaker, Jon Priest’s favorite varietals, so delicate, intentional winemaking crafts this lovely expression from Napa Valley. On the nose, lovely white floral aromatics sit alongside stone fruit character. On the palate, a flinty minerality is present, supported by more tropical notes of Asian pear, candied apple peel, white nectarine, and citrus blossom. The texture is creamy, supple and round, due to the lees character, balanced alongside refreshing, crisp acidity. The finish is long and dry demonstrating the true elegance and inherent balance found within our renowned estate vineyards.

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The Vineyard

Grace Benoist Ranch

This wine is crafted from grapes grown at our Estate Vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch. Certified Alsatian clones are planted here in deep, well-drained loamy soils which are perfect for capturing memorable flavors. The cooler temperatures driven by nearby San Pablo Bay provide for a long and even growing season, allowing the Pinot Gris fruit to fully ripen while still preserving natural acidity.

The Grace Benoist Estate vineyard is farmed to Etude’s exacting standards, using environmentally sound viticultural practices. We grow, and ultimately harvest, focusing on intensity of flavor, strong varietal delineation, and ideal natural balance. Etude is sustainably certified under the Napa Green program at the winery, while Grace Benoist Ranch is certified under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

Process

The 2021 vintage

  • The 2021 season was joyous and welcomed after the challenges of previous vintages, producing exceptionally high-quality fruit, some of the best in recent years. A tremendous year to taste the nuances and terroir distinction from around the valley.

  • Spring

    Rain early in the year led to almost no notable precipitation for the rest of the season, providing an ideal environment for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring, with budbreak early in April, followed by flowering and bloom in May.

  • Summer

    The summer saw early and even ripening throughout the valley, with veraison appearing in early July.Low yields (in part due to drought conditions), created fruit that is intensely flavored and smaller in berry size.

    One of the earliest starts, harvest began with white wine grapes coming in towards late July, while red wine grapes arrived about a month later, at the end of August.

  • Harvest

    With optimal ripening and taste, our winemakers took their time bringing grapes in, crafting wines of fantastic character, with amazing color extraction, aromatic intensity, tremendous balance, and structure, that are equally lush and fruity.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

We harvested the Pinot Gris into small bins at night and rushed them to our winery in order to retain the freshness and purity of the fruit. After gently pressing the whole clusters, the juice for the Pinot Gris was transferred to small, 75-gallon stainless steel barrels for fermentation, and then allowed to mature undisturbed for four months sur lie (ageing on the lees), enhancing the silky texture and mouthfeel, before a very gentle bottling. The wine never touches a sliver of oak, nor does any portion undergo malolactic fermentation.