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  • A bottle of Etude Yamhela Vineyard Pinot Noir from Oregon
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2023 Yamhela Vineyard Pinot Noir

2023 Yamhela Vineyard Pinot Noir

Yamhill-Carlton District750mL14.2
$70.00
$70.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2023
  • Region: Willamette Valley
  • Appelation: Yamhill-Carlton District
  • ABV: 14.2
  • Varietal: Pinot Noir
  • pH: 3.75

Tasting Notes

Radiant in the glass with a ruby garnet hue, this wine immediately intrigues with a vibrant, expressive nose - ripe strawberry mingles with darker red and blue fruits like blueberry, plum and marionberry, all lifted by a hint of savory conifer. On the palate, it delivers a juicy core of red and blue fruit, at once vivid and nuanced, revealing itself in elegant, layered turns. A delicate thread of oak spice adds intrigue and length, while the youthful tannin structure signals that this wine will reward with careful cellaring for years to come.

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Winemaker Jon Priest walking between rows of grapevines in a vineyard.

Yamhela Vineyard

The epitome of cool-climate viticulture, Oregon’s Willamette Valley is subject to variances of weather and best known for the equally finicky varietal: Pinot Noir. In Willamette Valley’s northwest corner, low ridges create an AVA centered around the hamlets of Carlton and Yamhill in a distinct horseshoe shape. Home to some of Oregon’s most renowned Pinot Noir vineyards, the Yamhill-Carlton District is known for its coarse-grained marine sedimentary soils that are among the oldest in Willamette Valley. The appellation is situated on hillsides between 200 and 1,000 feet in elevation, and the Yamhela Vineyard, established in 2007, is located at a sweet spot with blocks from 220-630 feet above sea level. This specific site is low enough to allow for ideal ripening and receives more sunshine than the rest of the region, which is often under a rain shadow formed by the looming Coast Range to the west. The specific soil combined with the location encourages early ripening of Pinot Noir, which is particularly important for winemaking in this region.

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

Crafted with the same minimal winemaking techniques as Etude’s celebrated Carneros Pinot Noirs, this Oregon wine purely reflects the unique essence and character of Yamhela Vineyard while maintaining Etude’s hallmarks of aromatic intrigue, vibrancy of expression and depth in ageability.