TN: 2004 Etude Pinot Noir Heirloom (USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros)

Good to hear that someone else likes it. I have 6 bottles in my cellar right now.

I liked the 03 - but this beats the pants off it. So lush, cinnamon just lingers in the glass afterwards....it's drinking great now, pop one!

i want to try an Etude Pinot bad... you guys are killing me! i've had a couple Soter Pinot's & the Rose but never an Etude... one day

Kuma - you need to get up there...the Cabs and pinots are some of the most consistent in the valley

What clones specifically does he use? I must admit, it's a mysterious, wine geeky name for a wine, but what is he really talking about?

Cdr- couldnt tell you the exact clones, but I know they're Heirlooms (jk).

I wish I remembered from my trip last summer what our host mentioned they were, but memory is failing.

I do recall that yields are low with the particular clones...Ill call tomorrow and try and find out.

Duh - just checked the website...here is what is listed, though they dont mention the clone #s...

quote:

Originally posted by kumazam:
i want to try an Etude Pinot bad... you guys are killing me! i've had a couple Soter Pinot's & the Rose but never an Etude... one day

Our local BEVMO will arrange to bring it in from another store. I've had them do it.

Heirloom is a fancy way of saying "Pommard," me thinks. Excellent marketing. I can just hear the b.s being spouted by the swirlers and sniffers.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
Heirloom is a fancy way of saying "Pommard," me thinks. Excellent marketing. I can just hear the b.s being spouted by the swirlers and sniffers.

Whatever is in it, Soter made a gorgeous pinot noir.

I've long enjoyed Etude PInot Noirs, but I still think Cabernet Sauvignon is Etude's best wine consistently.

What's in "Heirloom"?:

Could be partially Pommard, but I'd guess that it more likely includes Mt. Eden, Martini, perhaps Swan, maybe Calera / Chalone clones, and could be UCD 9, 16, or 29, which I believe are also known as the "Jackson Clones"... from the oldest known plantings of PN in California.

Generally these have become known as the "hierloom clones", since they have some history-- in the case of Mt. Eden and Jackson there is A LOT of history... by U.S. standards.

I would guess Martini is a good bet as well as the Mt. Eden. I'm going to look at a bottle and see if the back text has some meaningful information about the clones.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I would guess Martini is a good bet as well as the Mt. Eden. I'm going to look at a bottle and see if the back text has some meaningful information about the clones.

I'll check too when I get home, but I dont recall any clone info...

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I've long enjoyed Etude PInot Noirs, but I still think Cabernet Sauvignon is Etude's best wine consistently.

AMEN. Have you tried the 02s (napa, rutherford and calistoga?)

Tony Soter has spoken in the past to his Heirloom pinot vines which are old vines that are proven quality producers and are still producing when in fact most vineyard managers would replant them because they are past their most productive life in terms of volume.

Have just had the generic "Napa" appellation Cabs and have always found them to be classics.

i think its safe to say Tony just makes damn good wine, period

What Kumazan says!