2018 Carneros Pinot Noir
2018 Carneros Pinot Noir
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.
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Specifications
Specifications
- Vintage: 2018
- Region: Carneros
- Appelation: Carneros
- Varietal: Pinot Noir
![A bottle of Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir.](http://www.etudewines.com/cdn/shop/files/Etude_Carneros_PinotNoir_750.png?v=1721680489&width=1445)
![](http://www.etudewines.com/cdn/shop/files/650x700_Etude-JonPriest-GraceBenoistRanch-2061.jpg?v=1701891315&width=1500)
The Vineyard
Grace Benoist Ranch
Process
The 2018 vintage
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Napa & Carneros
A near perfect season was welcomed in 2018 after several tense vintages, beginning with abundant February rains followed by drying sun and weather that allowed for even flowering and bud break. The slightly later start was followed by consistently ideal weather, with harvest for Pinot Noir occurring in late August and early September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.
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Sonoma Coast
Hallberg sits in one of the coolest areas of Sonoma County. Cooler temperatures and moderate weather allowed grapes to ripen perfectly, developing deep complexity, intensity, ripeness and balance with a beautiful freshness that came naturally. There was little to no frost during the spring fruit set and no heat spikes throughout the growing season – all of which helped the grapes reach full maturity, with harvest occurring in mid-September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.
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Willamette Valley
The Yamhill-Carlton District of Willamette Valley experienced an almost return to normal vintage in 2018. The spring and summer were some of the warmest and driest on record, but with no heat spikes recorded, the season increased in length due to the cool autumn weather. That allowed grapes to hang and develop complex flavors on the vine, while retaining freshness and acidity. The characteristic of the vintage is rich Pinot Noir fruit, with fully developed flavors, and a richness of tannins that gave structure to the wines.
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Santa Barbara
What may be considered a ‘classic’ vintage, the wines from 2018 show tremendous intensity and complexity. Santa Barbara County provided a mild to warm summer, with a cooler autumn, allowing the grapes to remain on the vine until they reached ideal maturity. While the quality of the grapes was phenomenal, our overall yields were down slightly due to smaller berry size and clusters. The fruit was harvested in late September, yielding wines with beautifully balanced acidity, exceptional weight and texture, and complex varietal flavors.
![](http://www.etudewines.com/cdn/shop/files/image_3c148e1e-0dcf-43a8-8c74-ccb172734ad8.png?v=1699891039&width=1500)
Crafted Excellence
Winemaking