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2020 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine

2020 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine

Carneros750ml

Showcasing 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...

Showcasing 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.

$60.00
$60.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2019
  • Region: Carneros
  • Appelation: Carneros
  • Varietal: Noirs Sparkling

Tasting Notes

This 2019 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. Gorgeous pale straw hues set the stage for a fine, pin-point bead and fragrant aromas of lightly toasted brioche, red currant and strawberry which sit alongside lifted notes of Meyer lemon. On the palate, a fine mousse showcases a lively citrus zest, allowing the vibrant acidity to balance a rich fruit character, delivering a subtle elegance throughout. The finish is persistent with a vibrant and appealing minerality, ushering hints of crushed rock and buoyant crispness.

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The Vineyard

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.

Process

The 2020 vintage

  • 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 Excellence

Winemaking

The 2019 vintage presented our third annual opportunity to craft this stunning Blanc de Noirs. Our winemaker’s intention is to craft a sparkling wine to mimic a grower-producer sparkling approach, accomplishing a classically styled Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Noirs. Handpicked fruit was harvested in the cool night hours and sent directly to the winery where it was gently whole-cluster pressed. Pinot Noir from our Grace Benoist vineyard is the base wine of this cuvee, while Chardonnay completes the remainder 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 three years on lees prior to disgorging, before releasing in fall of 2023.