Rich mouthfeel and I would say atypical for a sauvignon blanc. As such, it definitely fits in my wheelhouse. — 2 years ago
Bright ruby red color. Bountiful aromas of red berries and dried violets. Pallet is full of strawberry and raspberry fruit with hints of black tea, baking spices, earth and pepper spice. Just a bit of a “gamey” quality as well. Nice hint of oak on the clean finish. Fine tannins and bright acidity. Creamy texture. Rich and nicely rounded. Absolutely a “California-Style” Pinot Noir. Nice choice, Mark Smith. — 3 years ago
Cherries and herb. Medium light feel. It’s very nice. Do again. — 2 months ago
Forest floor beautiful floral bouquet scent blueberry fruit. Medium body. Soft finish. — 10 months ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, blackberries, blueberries, dried figs, raisins, light oak, licorice, light tobacco, light earth, chocolates, eucalyptus, light vegetables, herbs, wildflowers, cola and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, figs, dried fruits, coffee, light cedar, tobacco, chocolates, cola, vanilla, licorice, spices, light earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This gorgeous 18 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now.
This is a great surprise, as the cork totally crumbled, and I expected the worst, but it really delivered.
Shows nice balance, and great complexity with a velvety mouthfeel.
Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. As it opens up, tannins come in (45 minutes), and make it more structured and interesting.
A great sipping wine to have all by itself and talk about. The nose is just gorgeous.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
95 points.
$80. — 3 years ago
Etude – Heirloom Pinot Noir 2012
Grace Benoist Ranch, Carneros AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
Estate-grown from the celebrated Grace Benoist Ranch, this Heirloom Pinot underscores Etude’s mastery of Carneros terroir. Over a decade since harvest, it has aged with remarkable poise, offering proof that Carneros Pinot can rival the greats for longevity. This one delivers the wow-factor in spades.
Aromas & Flavors
Dried cherry, black raspberry, and plum layered with rose petal, tea leaf, and subtle leather. Mature accents of forest floor and truffle bring savory depth to the fruit core.
Mouthfeel
Silky and seamless, with tannins fully resolved into finesse. Bright acidity carries the wine gracefully, while the finish lingers in layers of spice, earth, and fruit. Quite literally, the wine dances in the mouth.
Food Pairing
A natural match with duck confit, wild mushroom risotto, or aged Comté cheese. The wine’s silky texture and earthy notes intertwine beautifully with savory, umami-rich dishes.
The Verdict
A captivating Pinot Noir that reaffirms Etude’s finesse and Grace Benoist Ranch’s pedigree. This 2012 shows the sweet spot for Etude Heirloom around the 10–12 year mark, where fruit, earth, and structure harmonize in peak expression. Among Carneros’ top benchmarks for age-worthy Pinot. Cheers! — 2 months ago
Crisp with mineral tones - awesome with burgers. Perfect bubbles. Jess wants a 6 pack from BP. — 3 years ago
A solid Beaujolais-Village, bearing the stigma of the beautiful Beaujolais wines. Tiled ruby color, of a certain concentration. Superb open nose, between candied red fruits (cherry, strawberry), dried floral bouquet (Pink, peony, iris), white pepper, and notes of aerial evolution tending towards truffle, medley, nail polish. Close to a Burgundy in more airy and more floral. Fine and final body on vivacity. Beautiful nobility, superb for its price. Drink a little refreshed.
Un Beaujolais-Village solide, portant les stigmates des beaux crus du Beaujolais.
Robe rubis tuilée, d’une concentration certaine. Superbe nez ouvert, entre fruits rouges confiturés (cerise, fraise), bouquet floral séché (Rose, pivoine, iris), poivre blanc, et notes d’évolution aérienne tendant vers la truffe, pot-pourri, vernis à ongle. Proche d’un Bourgogne en plus aérien et plus floral. Corps fin et finale sur la vivacité. Belle noblesse, superbe pour son prix. À boire un peu rafraîchi. — 3 years ago
Austin Hohnke
Super pleasant chillable quaffer. 70% Gamay, 20% Brauvol, and 10% Grolleau. Organic fruit from Touraine. Fresh, juicy, and earthy in all the right places. — 23 days ago