2022 Heirloom Chardonnay

Etude’s Heirloom Chardonnay, produced from heirloom selections of the variety, is dedicated to the celebration and preservation of plant diversity. Heirloom plants are horticultural treasures that have been handed down from generation to generation for centuries. Like its counterpart, Etude’s Heirloom Pinot Noir, this Chardonnay exemplifies the singular superiority of this unique offering – unusually expressive, concentrated and pure – a tribute to the original varieties or vine selections chosen for the inherent wine quality they produce. Winemaker Jon Priest has always admired the Chardonnay from these Heirloom selections for the inherent elegance, balance and minerality exhibited, and this small bottling, only produced in the best years, highlights these special selections.

The fruit for the Heirloom Chardonnay was harvested at night and gently whole-cluster pressed before being transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. Traditional in approach, the wine was bottled after 18 months of maturation, with a periodic stirring of the lees for the initial two months of aging to enhance aromatics and increase mouthfeel texture. This small-lot Chardonnay was crafted to showcase the unique terroir at Grace Benoist Ranch. The wine underwent full natural and spontaneous primary fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation, allowing more of a “hands-off” approach in winemaking, and allowing for the natural acidity and beauty of the Chardonnay grape to truly express itself