• A bottle of Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Pinot Gris
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2022 Carneros Pinot Gris

2022 Carneros Pinot Gris

Carneros750ml
$35.00
$35.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2022
  • 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, the wine is bright and cheery with fragrant white elderflower aromatics alongside hints of lime zest, kiwi, and marzipan. On the palate, a flinty minerality comes through balanced Pablo I by tropical notes of Granny Smith apple, white peach, lime zest, and citrus blossom. The mouthfeel is lithe and supple providing depth and richness from the sur lie lees contact, giving the wine a luscious texture, weight, and body. Tremendously balanced, refreshing, and quite quaffable, the finish provides a mouth-pleasing length that is dry harvest and crisp. A stunning example of the complexity and nuance found within our renowned estate vineyards at Grace Benoist Ranch.

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

The Vineyard

Grace Benoist Ranch

This wine is crafted from grapes grown at our estate vineyard, Grace BenoistRanch. Here, certified Alsatian clones are planted 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, even growing season that allows the Pinot Gris fruit to fully ripen while preserving natural acidity. The Grace Benoist Estate vineyard is a farmed to Etude's exacting standards, using environmentally sound viticultural pratices. We grow and harvest focused on intensity of flavor, strong varietal delineation, and 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 2016 Vintage

  • Napa & Sonoma

    The 2016 vintage was challenging, with the impact of our continuing drought requiring a deft touch in the vineyard, although there was some winter rain that helped recharge much needed groundwater. Bud break was early in February, and the march toward harvest continued through the season, with fruit arriving about two weeks earlier than normal. Shatter resulted in some blocks with lower yields, but the warm, mild growing days led to fruit with abundant flavor, good acidity and balance.

  • Central Coast

    The extended drought was beginning to cause concern as the 2016 growing season began. However, a very warm spring and early summer with almost no rain allowed the fruit to ripen at a steady and deliberate pace. July and August brought cool nights and gentle warmth to the Sta. Rita Hills to allow the smaller-sized crop to mature perfectly, producing small berries in pristine condition. The drier-than normal conditions and the region’s abundant sunshine resulted in wines with excellent concentration, balance, color and intensity, resulting in Pinot Noir fruit showing exceptional depth and finesse.

  • Willamette Valley

    The trend toward early harvests continued, and harvest was rapid, completed in record time. Bud break was early by one to two weeks, and warm weather continued through the spring and summer.  Lower yields brought small berry sizes with intense aromatics and concentrated flavors.  Tannins are more fine-grained, but with fruit, acidity and tannins all in great balance, this could be one of the most memorable vintages in recent Oregon history.
Winemaker Jon Priest holding up harvested grapes near stainless steel fermentation tanks.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

We harvested the Pinot Gris into small bins at night and rushed them to our winery to retain the freshness and purity of the fruit. After gently pressing the whole clusters, the juice was transferred to small stainless-steel barrels for fermentation and then matured undisturbed for four months sur lie, 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.