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Tasting Notes
This vintage of Forté is harmonious and balanced, with incredible fruit concentration, structure and depth. Deep and sinuous, this Pinot is fully engaging with expressive aromatics of dark red berries, black cherry, red currant and cranberry alongside subtle hints of spice from the well-integrated oak and freshly turned earth minerality. On the palate, the fruit is bright and inviting with jubilant red berries interwoven with hints of hibiscus flowers and warm baking spices. Elegantly balanced with mouthwatering acidity and minerality notes, the wine finishes with a lingering savory-ness and persistent length, delivering more layers and complexity as its enjoyed now and for the years to come.Technical Information
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Appellation | Santa Rita Hills |
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
Scores & Accolades
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95“This is a tight and focused pinot, offering dried strawberries and cherries with some cream undertones. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are creamy in texture and deliver and long, persistent finish. Drinkable now, but much better in two or three years.” - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, December 6 2021
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94“A bit darker in hue than the regular Fiddlestix Vineyard bottling, the 2019 Pinot Noir Forte-Fiddlestix Vineyard is a blend of two blocks—one planted to Pommard and the other to Clone 113. Scents of black cherries are joined by some herbal-peppery notes and the suggestion of dark roses. Medium to full-bodied, this is plump and supple, with a long, silky finish that's a step up from most of the other Pinots in the Etude lineup.” - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, June 2022
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94“This packs in a lot of fun blood orange, pomegranate, kirsch and mulled raspberry notes, while adding mouthwatering savory and wood spice accents along the edges. A lovely swirl of red tea garnishes the finish. Drink now through 2030.” - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, May 4, 2022
Winemaking
The grapes for this wine were harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity. They were placed in open-top fermenters for 3-5 days of cold maceration followed by fermentation. A small percentage of the grapes were left as whole cluster to preserve the buoyancy of aromatics of the fruit and to add structure and refinement to the wine. Punch downs were performed during the early stages of fermentation with the extraction becoming gentler as the wine became dry, and followed with a quiet extended maceration to help modify the richness and mouthfeel of the wine. The wine was lightly pressed into small French oak barrels where it rested for 14 months.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.
Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills AVA
