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2018 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine

2018 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine

Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the harvest, with superior grape growing leading to wines with authentic varietal expression and a telling...

Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the harvest, with superior grape growing leading to wines with authentic varietal expression and a telling reflection of where they are grown and produced.

A dream creation for winemaker Jon Priest, years in the making, our first Blanc de Noirs - a white sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir (black) and Chardonnay (white) grapes, is inspired by a playful experimentation which yielded a few precious cases of this truly unique California sparkling wine from our hallmark Grace Benoist Ranch, Carneros vineyards. Meant to showcase traditional Blanc de Noirs characteristics of bright fruity fleshiness and a bit more body and texture, we hope this sparkling becomes an Etude cult favorite, as its only available in very small quantities exclusively at the winery.

Carneros750ml 12.5

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$60.00
$60.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2018
  • Region: Carneros
  • Appelation: Carneros
  • ABV: 12.5
  • Varietal: Blanc de Noirs
  • pH: 3.11

Tasting Notes

This 2018 Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine is a classically styled Brut Méthode Traditionnelle offering the truest expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our Grace Benoist Ranch. A light, pale, straw gold color with flecked hints of rose-gold, and a fine, persistent bead allow the bubbles to dance elegantly in the glass. On the nose, delicate white magnolia floral notes come through alongside Meyer lemon citrus and orange peel, while toasty brioche and vanilla crème notes are more subtle. The palate is crisp and lively with a textured richness to the fine mousse, delivering elegance and vibrancy throughout. The midpalate is fresh and inviting with notes of lemon verbena, white peach, and Golden Delicious apple. Finishing with a long, lush, and exuberant crispness, with mouthwatering minerality and complexity. An ideal thirst-quenching quaffer while sipping as an aperitif, or perfectly paired alongside a variety of cuisines and celebratory occasions. Cheers!

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Expert reviews

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“This is a new sparkling wine with a linear and bright fruit character with citrus and brioche aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Very dry and steely with fruit and pie dough character at the end. A blend of 77% pinot noir and 23% chardonnay. Three years on yeast. 3.5 grams dosage. Drink or hold.” – JamesSuckling.com, March 6, 2023

Grace Benoist Ranch

An exemplary expression of Grace Benoist Ranch estate vineyard, this cuvée is a blend of the best vineyard blocks on the Ranch, tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation. Unlike most Carneros vineyards, which are largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils of Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to San Pablo Bay, makes this cooler site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties, known for crafting the world’s best sparkling wines. Vineyard blocks are individually managed to conform to various soil types and the changing contours of the hillside topography. Individual vineyards within Grace Benoist Ranch average only eight acres in size, and spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. As stewards of the property, Etude remains steadfast in our commitment to adhere to sustainable agricultural practices that enable us to farm in concert with the surrounding environment. Wildlife corridors, raptor roosts and owl boxes are abundant throughout the Ranch.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

The 2018 vintage presented our second annual opportunity to craft this stunning Blanc de Noirs. Our winemaker’s intention is to craft a sparkling wine to mimic a grower produced sparkling approach, accomplishing a classically styled Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Noirs, honoring the techniques used in Champagne, France. Handpicked fruit was harvested in the cool morning hours and sent directly to the winery where it was gently whole cluster pressed. When producing a Blanc de Noirs cuvee, our winemakers remove the dark grape skins just after the fruit has been pressed. This way, the clear grape juice ferments separately and produces a white sparkling wine. Pinot Noir from our Grace Benoist vineyard is the base wine of this cuvee, 10% of which went to barrel for fermentation, while chardonnay completes the rest of the blend, adding brightness, complexity, and fruity character on the mid palate while also drawing out the length of the finish. The wine spent over four years on lees prior to disgorging, then some time resting in bottle, before releasing in Fall of 2022.