Etude "Estate - Grace Benoist Ranch" Pinot Noir 2022
(Carneros, Sonoma County, California) - [JS 96] [JD 90] [VM 90]

About the Wine:
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.

About the Vineyards:
The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir hails from our estate vineyards tucked away in the fThe Pinot Noir for this wine is grown on our estate vineyards which lie tucked in the southwestern most corner of Sonoma. Unlike the majority of Carneros, which is largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are volcanic in origin. Within the ranch, there are four smaller vineyards (Laniger, Deer Camp, Temblor, and Heirloom) with five main unique soil types, 20 distinct Pinot Noir vine selections, and a variety of clones that all contribute to the distinctive flavor profile of this unique terroir. The well-drained, rocky upland soils of the ranch and the extreme western location close 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 follow the changing contours of the ranch’s 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 certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing as well as Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming.

Winemaking:
The fruit, including a small number of whole clusters, underwent cold maceration, with a period of time on the skins, in small-lot, open-top fermenters. The fermentation regime is always adapted to the unique conditions of each vintage to best express each vineyard parcel, highlighting the delicate aromas, fruit depth, tannin structure, and flavors. Vineyard lots are vinified and aged individually and final blending is subject to a rigorous selection process, where 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.

Tasting Notes:
Our 2022 Carneros Pinot Noir opens with expressive aromas of bright Bing cherries and crushed red berries, alongside floral notes of violet and rose, accented by fresh herbs, subtle cedar spice, and a touch of volcanic minerality. The palate showcases strawberry, red currant, and black cherry, buoyed by vibrant acidity. Notes of willow bark, orange peel, and rooibos tea add complexity, while an earthy, forest floor character emerges alongside warm hints of almond skin, mushroom, vanilla and cigar box. Medium-bodied and easy-drinking with glossy tannins and a refined balance, this Pinot Noir is both approachable and nuanced. Its bright, lifted character and underlying tension offer immediate charm while promising further evolution in the bottle.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - James Suckling:
"Bright aromas of fresh raspberries, violets, graphite and rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied with glossy tannins and balanced acidity, giving flavors of dried strawberries, cassia bark, citrus peel and dried herbs. Very well constructed, with underlying tension. Drink or hold." (Jan 2025)

90 Points - Wine Spectator:
This displays a taut, focused core of raspberry and bitter cherry coulis laced with savory, red tea and rose hip accents. Streamlined finish. 

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Spiced darker cherries, loamy earth, savory herbs, and dried flower notes all emerge from Etude's 2022 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch, a medium-bodied, spicy, complex, satisfying Pinot Noir. It's nicely balanced, has ample Pinot Noir charm and character, soft tannins, and a solid 7-8 years of prime drinking. (Drink between 2025-2033)." (Jan 2025)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch is a fine introduction to the five Etude Pinots from this ranch in the corner of Carneros. Crushed red berry fruit, cedar, spice, pipe tobacco and menthol are all beautifully lifted in this open-knit, mid-weight offering. This is a fine effort, especially for the year. (Drink between 2025-2030)." - Antonio Galloni (Dec 2024)