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2021 Carneros Pinot Noir

2021 Carneros Pinot Noir

Carneros750ml

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir is a true reflection of the winery’s estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch. A blend of the best grapes from individual vineyard parcels on the Ranch, this wine tells...

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir is a true reflection of the winery’s estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch. A blend of the best grapes from individual vineyard parcels on the Ranch, this wine tells the story of a particular vintage from a very unique place.

  • Alcohol 14.4%
  • Vintage 2021
$47.00
$47.00

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Specifications

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

Tasting Notes

This dark ruby-red Pinot Noir is bright and juicy. Fragrant aromas of red cherry, cranberry, and cassis sit alongside lifted dusty rose and tobacco leaf, while crushed stone and minerality support the vibrant fruit. On the palate, fresh, mouthwatering acidity accompanies a core of fresh red berries and dried cherry, while perfumed cedar, white pepper spice, caramel, and toasty vanilla oak come through as a tribute to the oak aging. Secondary notes of delicate cherry blossom, wild violet, dried thyme, and bay laurel are also present. The medium body supports soft tannins with a firm grip. The wine finishes long, smooth, and round with nuanced hints of graphite, clove spice, and earthy minerality derived from the volcanic soils adding complexity and depth, a signature characteristic found in Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noirs.

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The Vineyard

Carneros Vineyard

Grace Benoist Ranch lies tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation in Sonoma. Unlike most of Carneros, which is largely uplifted clay bay bottoms, the soils here are volcanic in origin. The ranch’s well-drained, rocky upland soils and proximity to the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay make it an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties. Within the ranch, there are four smaller vineyards (Laniger, Deer Camp, Temblor, and Heirloom) with five principal soil types and 20 Pinot Noir clones. Individual vineyards average only eight acres and spacing is dense to ensure low per-vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. Our vineyards, sustainably farmed to our exacting standards using environmentally sound practices, are certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Napa Green Winery, and Fish Friendly Farming.

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

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