Collector

Winegrowing
A cool, wet spring and unpredictable flowering season in the Napa Valley led to lower yields in the 2003 vintage. However, the vines were in balance and the fruit was in excellent condition at harvest. This is reflected in the concentration of the resulting wines. The 2003 vintage wines are softer in extract and show early elegance.

We source Cabernet grapes from several unique vineyards representing the principal benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley. These vineyards located in Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga are extraordinary and make essential contributions to the complexity of our principal wine, the Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The St. Helena Cabernet was the second appellation wine to be introduced in our series of very small bottlings dedicated to highlighting these specific component wines.

Located in the upper Napa Valley, the Schoenstein Vineyard, owned by Margaret Schoenstein and her family, serves as the single vineyard for this wine. The vineyard sits on a pronounced alluvial fan along the Mill Creek north of St. Helena. This bottling comes from a four acre block of older vines where Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grow adjacent to one another. The two varieties are actually picked at the same time and co-fermented.

Tasting Notes
Vibrant raspberry and blueberry aromas along with a bright perfume note are the signatures of this balanced and refined Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the wine offers forward flavors of dark berries, violets and cassis that lead to a highly structured and complex finish packed with notes of bittersweet chocolate, black plum and almond.

Winegrowing
The 2005 growing season was cooler than average overall, but the later part of the growing season provided the steady weather we needed to bring the grapes to an optimum ripeness. The cool, consistent weather pattern allowed the flavor development of the grapes to keep up with the brix accumulation, which is not often the case. This extended the harvest, providing a longer ripening period and excellent fruit condition.

This bottling marks the second vintage of the Etude Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, which was sourced exclusively from Block 6 of the Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville—home to some of the most sought after Cabernet grapes in the Napa Valley. The Phillips family has carefully managed this alluvial benchland vineyard for two generations.

The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon was the third appellation wine to be introduced in our series of very small bottlings dedicated to highlighting these specific component wines.

Tasting Notes
Dense aromas of licorice, blackberry, black plum and brown baking spice begin the nose of this muscular 2005 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is saturated with dark fruit and hints of espresso bean, clove and tarragon. Full, mature tannins create an opulent texture and will support the aging of this wine.

The French term terroir indicates all the attributes of a vineyard that shape a wine’s personality. Etude’s Cabernet Sauvignon draws blueberry and cocoa expression from its Rutherford origins, while the Pinot takes black fruit, plum and Asian spice character from its roots in Carneros. Delight the connoisseur on your list with this unique pair.

2008 Heirloom Pinot Noir, Carneros

The Heirloom 2008 in the glass reveals a dark ruby hue with a deep saturation and vibrancy. Aromas of dark cherry and berry fruit are complimented by spicebox components of cardamom, gingerbread, nutmeg and a hint of licorice. Flavors of concentrated and focused dark berry fruit are lifted by vibrant acidity and youthful notes, which build dimension and complexity with bottle age. Additionally, fine, plush tannins and minerality make this a hallmark vintage of Heirloom.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

The 2007 Etude Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is yet again a hallmark for the growing region. The wine begins with signature aroma of blueberry and is followed by the bittersweet, warm note of cocoa powder. Ripe fruit creates saturated flavors that greet the palate. The wine shows characteristic tannin structure and of course, the classic “Rutherford Dust” that lingers on the finish.