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  • A bottle of Heirloom Chardonnay from Etude's Carneros estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch
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2023 Heirloom Chardonnay

2023 Heirloom Chardonnay

Produced only in the finest years, this wine opens with a delicate pale straw hue that hints
at its graceful character. On the nose, it’s a study in subtlety: light lemon chiffon, bright <...

Produced only in the finest years, this wine opens with a delicate pale straw hue that hints
at its graceful character. On the nose, it’s a study in subtlety: light lemon chiffon, bright
yuzu and the ethereal perfume of white tree blossoms drift gently from the glass. The
palate continues the wine’s delicate theme, showcasing zesty citrus and a lively brightness
as well as white rock minerality which grounds the wine in a cool, stony backbone. A
whisper of honeysuckle, followed by the soft richness of crème brûlée from time spent on
lees, offers texture without weight. Lifted by vibrant acidity and finishing with length and
finesse, this is a wine of quiet power and impeccable balance, built to evolve beautifully
over time.

750mL14.1
$65.00
$65.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2023
  • ABV: 14.1
  • Varietal: Chardonnay
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Winemaker Jon Priest walking between rows of grapevines in a vineyard.

Etude’s Heirloom Chardonnay, produced from heirloom selections of the variety, is dedicated to the celebration and preservation of plant diversity. Heirloom plants are horticultural treasures that have been handed down from generation to generation for centuries. Like its counterpart, Etude’s Heirloom Pinot Noir, this Chardonnay exemplifies the singular superiority of this unique offering – unusually expressive, concentrated and pure – a tribute to the original varieties or vine selections chosen for the inherent wine quality they produce. Winemaker Jon Priest has always admired the Chardonnay from these Heirloom selections for the inherent elegance, balance and minerality exhibited, and this small bottling, produced only in the best years, highlights these special selections

vintage

In 2023, Grace Benoist Ranch, situated in the cool, maritime-swept Carneros region of Sonoma, benefited from a classic growing season defined by moderation and persistence. A wet and cool winter segued into a foggy "June gloom," delaying bud break and pushing veraison late into the season. Throughout summer, temperatures remained mild, with daytime highs generally between the low to mid-70°F range, which allowed fruit to ripen evenly and maintain vibrant natural acidity. Harvest was unusually late; this extended hang time permitted development of excellent flavor and structural depth without loss of finesse. The resulting wines display hallmark traits of Grace Benoist Ranch: clarity of fruit, refined minerality and bright acidity. Age-worthy, they are beautifully balanced - structured yet elegant - with vivid aromatics that reflect the cool-climate precision of this remarkable 2023 vintage.

Winemaker Jon Priest holding up harvested grapes near stainless steel fermentation tanks.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

The fruit for the Heirloom Chardonnay was harvested at night and gently whole-cluster pressed before being transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. Traditional in approach, the wine was bottled after 18 months of maturation, with a periodic stirring of the lees for the initial two months of aging to enhance aromatics and increase mouthfeel texture. This small-lot Chardonnay was crafted to showcase the unique terroir at Grace Benoist Ranch. The wine underwent full, natural primary fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation, allowing more of a “hands off” approach in winemaking, and allowing for the natural acidity and beauty of the Chardonnay grape to truly express itself.