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2016 Etude Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

2016 Etude Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

2016 Etude Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir always shows a sense of elegance, with silky, glossy tannins—and this vintage continues that tradition. Plush and round, full without being overly heavy, savory notes are shared with aromas and flavors of pomegranate, raspberry and plum with a touch of oak spice and toasted graham cracker. The finish lingers, long and satisfying. While restraint and finesse are sometimes used with this wine, in this vintage it’s more of a statement wine, and the statement is clear: This is a fine example of what defines the Santa Rita Hills.

Technical Information

Varietal Pinot Noir
Vintage 2016
Appellation Santa Rita Hills
Blend 100% Pinot Noir
Oak Treatment 100% French oak barrels for 12 months, 25% new
Alcohol % 14.2%
Enclosure Type Cork

Scores & Accolades

  • 93

    Wine Advocate

    “Aged in 25% new French oak for 12 months, the medium ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard sings of red and purple flowers—violets, roses and lavender—over a core of kirsch, fresh raspberries and tilled soil. Medium-bodied with great vibrancy and a soft, fine-grained texture, it finishes long and perfumed.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, October 2018

Winemaking

Winemaking

Crafted with the same minimal winemaking techniques no matter the growing region, Etude Pinot Noir purely reflects the unique essence and character of the vineyard, maintaining Etude’s signature hallmarks of aromatic intrigue, vibrancy of expression and depth in ageability.

Jon Priest - Winemaker

For more than a decade Jon has fashioned Etude wines with a simple creed. Inspired winegrowing diminishes the need for a winemaker to intervene in the cellar. Whether sourcing from the estate Grace Benoist Ranch in Sonoma's Los Carneros, or vineyards like Fiddlestix and North Canyon in famed growing regions of California's Central Coast, his focus is on coaxing the very best from the vineyard. It shows in every glass of Etude.

Vintage

Vintage

The extended drought was beginning to cause concern as the 2016 growing season began. However, a very warm spring and early summer with almost no rain allowed the fruit to ripen at a steady and deliberate pace. July and August brought cool nights and gentle warmth to the Sta. Rita Hills to allow the smaller-sized crop to mature perfectly, producing small berries in pristine condition. The drier-than normal conditions and the region’s abundant sunshine resulted in wines with excellent concentration, balance, color and intensity, resulting in Pinot Noir fruit showing exceptional depth and finesse.

Vineyard

Santa Rita Hills AVA

Fiddlestix, Santa Rita Hills

Vineyard

The vineyard lies a few miles inland alongside the Santa Ynez River bench at the western end of the transverse-oriented Santa Ynez Valley. Fiddlestix receives a consistent marine influence from Pacific currents, but sits low enough against the hills to achieve some protection from the area’s strong afternoon winds. Exposure to coastal breezes and fog ensures cooling influences throughout extended sunny days, which helps to add depth and vibrancy to the fruit. Temperatures are rarely above the mid 70’s. In 35 small blocks on 96 acres, a variety of rootstocks and clones are planted in well-draining Gazos and Batella clay loam and calcareous marine shale providing complexity and diversity to the vineyard. Nearby are some of California’s most famed and historic Pinot Noir vineyards.

Winemaker Jon Priest

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