Etude’s AVA series reaches outside of their great Carneros estate fruit to show other facets of Pinot Noir, with all the care and skill that goes into the estate program. This wine from Kathy Joseph’s Fiddlestix vineyard shows rich black cherry, fall spice and just enough Santa Rita Hills funk to let you know where it comes from. Bright acid drives a long finish that has some sweet oak notes blossoming. I’d serve it with roast fowl with an under the skin butter and herb rub.
Etude, Sta. Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County, California) Pinot Noir 2014
By Rich Cook