Etude Carneros Pinot Noir, 750 ml

Flavor Profile

• Aroma: Boisterous red berry fruit aromas
• Taste: Array of red cherry, wild strawberry, pomegranate raspberry and spice. The core of red fruit is made complex with layers of sassafras, sandalwood and baking spice, supported by earthier notes of clay and leather
• Body: The mouthfeel is bright and lively with linear tannins
• Finish: The wine finishes long, soft, and supple with hints of caramel and spiced clove, a signature characteristic of Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir

Vibrant and lively, this ethereal ruby red Pinot Noir is savory and rich with fine-grained tannins and finishes long and fresh with hints of cinnamon and clove, a signature characteristic often found in Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noirs. Silky and supple with a lean line of acidity, making it ideal for enjoying now, or cellar away, for further development of the complex layers of flavor. Ethereal and soft with a fresh core of acidity, it pairs beautifully with a variety of cuisines and culinary dishes.

Vineyard

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir hails from our estate vineyards tucked away in the far Northwest corner of the Carneros appellation, just on the Southwest corner of Sonoma. Unlike most of Carneros, which is largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of soils influenced by volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay make this site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties. The vineyard parcels at Grace Benoist Ranch conform to the various soil types and the changing contours of the Ranch topography. Individual vineyards average only eight acres in size and spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. Grace Benoist Ranch is farmed to Etude’s exacting standards, using environmentally sound viticultural practices. The Ranch is sustainably farmed and certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance as well as Fish Friendly Farming. At the Ranch, there are four smaller vineyards (Laniger, Deer Camp, Temblor and Heirloom) with five principal unique soil types and 20 distinct Pinot Noir clones.

Process

• Winter: The 2020 season is considered another successful vintage, despite being remembered for factors beyond the typical harvest season. It was a warm, dry winter and the rain and cooler weather didn’t arrive until the end of march.
• Spring: While the mild spring season was a great early start, our winery working conditions had extensive safety protocols due to the covid-19 pandemic.
• Summer: Summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days, but then harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, which came as grapes started to be picked, and we were very fortunate that none of our vineyards were in the areas of the active fires.
• Harvest: The red wine harvest started in late august, with the wines showing excellent development in cellars, reflecting the fine vintage year.

Crafted with Excellence 

The Carneros Estate Pinot Noir underwent cold maceration in small lot open-top fermenters with extended time on the skins and including a small number of whole clusters. Vineyard lots are vinified and aged individually and final blending is subject to a rigorous selection process, whereby only the best casks are chosen to represent the Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Pinot Noir. The wine is aged in French Oak with a small percentage of new barrels.Wines is that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the grapes are harvested.

Sustainability

• Biodiversity: As a steward of the Carneros terroir, we are especially committed to biodiversity. That’s why we dedicate two-thirds of our Grace Benoist Ranch estate vineyard to preserving the wetland and woodland habitats and wildlife corridors that criss-cross our ranch. We reflect this ethos at our winery as well, where we’ve partnered with the Xerces Society to cultivate a native, water-wise habitat that supports wetland restoration, requires minimal if any irrigation, and welcomes Monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
• Farming Practices: Etude employs regenerative practices of compost application, cover cropping, low- and no-till farming, and animal integration – all of which support a vibrant and healthy ecosystem with living soils and mitigate the need for chemical inputs.
• Emissions: We’re equally as devoted to our work to address climate change. Etude has been powered by 100% renewable electricity since 2023. Currently, Etude generates carbon-free electricity from our rooftop array that covers approximately 30% of our electricity needs, and in 2024, we will more than double our solar generation, allowing us to cover over 90% of our electricity needs on site.
• Water: Efficient water usage is a top priority. In the vineyard, we closely monitor the needs of our vines to irrigate precisely and only when necessary, and at the winery, we’ve installed water-wise landscaping and use locally recycled water in our winery to mitigate groundwater extraction.
• Community: Each year, our community garden, cultivated and tended to by employees, donates thousands of pounds of fresh produce to the Napa Valley Food Bank.
• Sustainability Certifications: Etude maintains sustainability certifications across 100% of our operations and actively encourages other grape growers we partner with to do the same. We have been awarded for our leadership across the full spectrum of sustainability – environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability – with the 2023 California Green Medal Leader Award. We have certifications in Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, Fish Friendly Farming Program, and Napa Green Certified Winery.