2022 Estate Chardonnay

Unlike most Carneros vineyards, which are largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, our Grace Benoist Ranch estate, which lies tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation, has soils 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. 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 adhering 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.

The fruit for our Carneros Estate Chardonnay was harvested early, prior to the heat wave, and picked at night to preserve freshness and acidity. Our winemakers gently whole cluster pressed the grapes before transferring to neutral French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine was bottled after 10 months of maturation, with a periodic stirring of the yeast lees for the initial two months of aging to enhance aromatics and increase mid-palate texture. Crafted to showcase the unique terroir of Grace Benoist Ranch, the wine did not go through malolactic fermentation and only experienced a delicate touch of neutral French oak to preserve the natural acidity and beauty of cool-climate Carneros Chardonnay.