Winemaker Notes
Sourced from six special acres in the heart of the Grace Benoist Ranch, this estate Chardonnay showcases all that is alluring about Carneros. Beautifully bright and vibrant, full of balance and grace, Etude crafts this Chardonnay to highlight the expressive fruit and terroir, with only the lightest touch of oak. A bouquet of white floral blossom, citrus fruits, and brioche toast notes complements seamlessly interwoven flavors of white peach, Meyer lemon, Golden Delicious apple, and marzipan. Medium-bodied with a crisp minerality and creamy texture a Grace Benoist Ranch signature—this elegant wine shows a lovely freshness with mouthwatering acidity, finishing long and dry with a savory flintiness.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fresh and bright with sliced apples and hints of nougat. Medium body with a creamy texture and lovely length. It’s really nicely curated. Long. Gentle nature. Flint aftertaste. No malo, No new oak.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.