Etude winery offers a range of choices for Mother’s Day and any day

Happy Mother’s Day! Etude winery was founded in 1982 by Tony Soter in Los Carneros AVA, Sonoma. The old winery yard is currently Lewis Cellars, Oak Knoll, Napa. There are half-bottles findable around $20. Etude’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay come primarily from its Estate Vineyards. They produce Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties from growers in Napa; NZ; Oregon: Santa Maria AVA; and Fiddlestix, Santa Rita Hills AVA. Soter sold his interest to Beringer, now owned by Treasury Wine Estates, owners of Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Sterling, Stags’ Leap, Rosemount, BV, Wynns and Beringer, among 24 labels. The current manager of Etude since 2005 is Jon Priest. Winemaker is Rob Fisher. The 2019 Carneros Heirloom Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Grown Pinot Noir gets 91 McD points under $40. Find three reviews here: klwines.com/p/i?i=1475504. Difficult to believe that all three sampled the same wine, isn’t it? Shop your advisor carefully. Etude produces a wide range of PN. To date they have been good value, representative of the terroir and available. The 2017 Heirloom PN, 93 McD around $98, is remarkable. Etude also makes a respectable line of whites. The Pinot Gris shows lime, grapefruit and hints of apricot supported by bright acidity. Finishes dry and clean, great with flounder Meuniere. The puff piece recommended serving Benoist Ranch Chardonnay with winter veggie ratatouille. Although this lemony neutral, brightly acidic chard is not really my cup of wine, I gave the recipe a try – carrots, spuds, butternut, celery root, and sunchokes shingled, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with rosemary then baked. It was exceptional. The sunchokes were a very tough find. 2018 Oakville Cab, 94 McD, is a bit pricey but good value for upscale buyers. Very dark purple says it needs time. Blackberry, cherry, oaken spices with sun-dried tomato nuance lead to more barrel spice, currant, pencil shavings, black olive, licorice, and tea hints on a nicely balanced but slightly elevated dusty tannin palate. Finished long, dry with more dusty tannins. Normally tannins would be a concern, but color and diverse flavors say it will be wonderful in three or four years.

I couldn’t refrain from commenting on the latest outrage. Regardless our position on Roe, all should be concerned with the furor unleashed recently by rumors it is being overturned. We have a process and SCOTUS has not adjudicated this new challenge to Roe. The vitriol being tossed about regarding the leak of a draft of an opinion is an example of the dysfunctional system. Both parties have failed to pass a law which is succinct and constitutional for many years. Who among us truly wants unelected, lifetime-appointed, SCOTUS justices making law? Those interested should also read Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This is a default, if not also ruled on.  It is common for each SC justice’s staff to write up arguments prior to meeting to approve or deny a pleading. To date, nothing has actually been decided. Please don’t get caught up in the hysteria. Inform yourselves. 

This is another states vs. federal, constitutional issue. I think the framers were clear, and the 9th and 10th Amendments are succinct. In their entirety: 9th: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The 10th Amendment seems pretty clear to me also. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Before anyone becomes upset, I support most of Roe and Casey and the right to choose everything. It should follow that one must also accept the consequence of a choice. I firmly support 9th and 10th Amendment, and 1 USC 8, which describes a person: “Person,” “human being,” “child” and “individual” as including born-alive infant. At what point will we finally hold Congress to account and codify this issue? There are clear directions to change USC. It is Article 5. No mention of presidents or SC judges. Here is link: archives.gov/federal-register/constitution. Please inform yourselves. Don’t place your entire trust in media news or opinion, left or right. Study the arguments carefully, then be proactive. Contact Sens. Coons and Carper, and Rep. Blunt Rochester to express your opinion.