Gene W.
Yelp
I did not study well at school (ADD thing) but Etude, translation means "study" or a "short composition for a solo instrument," is a great way to start studying. Upon arrival at the tasting room, I debated talking with the tasting room host Bob Belichick about football, Bob is cousin of Patriot's coach Bill Belichick, Etude history or just take it all in. I did it all. As Etude states, "you don't make wine, you grow it". You probably researched it all prior to Etude visit, but if not, Tony Soter was a winemaking consultant who started Etude in 1982. About 20 years later he sold it to Beringer Blass Estates of Australia (Foster's beer anyone) & it has evolved to Treasuy Wine Estates. A lot of "grafting" in the wine industry across financial groups, public companies, etc. Tony is now in lovely Willamette Valley, still playing with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carlton, OR, at his 240 acre biodynamic farm Mineral Springs Ranch.
With about 30,000 cases, Etude is not a high volume focus, but has about 500+ planted acerage on Grace Benoist Ranch in Carneros. Saintsbury & Bouchaine Vineyards are Etude's neighbors (not bad vompany) & all focus is on Pinot Noir. It has been confirmed that the grapes grown at Etude's base in Napa are not used in Etude wines but another winery uses those grapes you see there. So the mystery continues.
If you look up the definition of Etude in the dictionary it's usually intended as a study piece which sets an example ... or to demonstrate the virtuosity of the individual who plays the piece. I also can't think of a better description for a benchmark wine to study, especially the pinot noir grapes and wine. A study piece for ones senses. Get the sample pinots of 12/750 ml - 3 bottles each of Etude Fiddlestix Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Etude North Canyon Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Etude Tembor Carneros Pinot Noir, and Etude Willamette Yamhill Pinot Noir. This laundry list of wine can be consumed alone, with a partner, with a small plate of tapas, nice ribeye, angel hair pasta in clam sauce, ANY FOOD PAIRINGS, which is why you cannot for wrong with Etude pinots and then get 3 bottles, one for before dinner and another with dinner. Move over you chards and cabs & cab blends, you have met your match. Vino Geno