Picked up one of these based upon a retailer's recommendation. Not cheap, $75. Anyone?

Not tried it. Didn't even know it existed. One of the best winemakers in the world, imo, so chances are it it is pretty good.

Well, I'm popping this tonight so I'll post my thoughts.

Agreed that Soter is a great winemaker. And, I also agree that throughout the 90s, Etude was great & provided a great value for the money. Besides that Etude in the 90s was one of CA's finest cabs.

When Tony sold Etude, I said "see you...". My last Etude was a 98.

More kudos for the old days at Etude. Have you guys ever had any of their Heirloom Pinot Noir? Awesome.

Tried one of these the other night. True to Soter's style, this is not a Cali fruit bomb. Don't get me wrong, there is a ton of fruit here (black and blue with anise overtones) with solid tannins and acidity. Hey, I think I just described balance. This wine put me in mind of a ripe St. Emilion.

Still a bit angular this probably needs a few years to knit together. For the $30 I paid, it's worth laying a few down to see how this wine evolves.

I have to chime in on this.

Soter was not a mentor to Trujillo. Before Etude had their own facilities, they had their wine scattered everywhere in the valley, including Seqouia Grove. Etude also bottled there, that's the Trujillo connection.

Soter did have Corison and Klein at Etude for awhile, however. Mia Klein made some pinots in the mid to late 90s that have become pretty stunning, I say.

For Soter Cab Franc. I think it's good wine, in a classic style that's against the grain so to speak with the rest of the Cab Francs in the valley. I cannot vouch for the `02, but the `05 showed some serious promise last winter after we put it in barrel.

With the future of Etude. I seriously think it's bright. Jon Priest, their new winemaker (first harvest was 2005), is a fantastic winemaker. He also has the most deft touch with wine from any winemaker I've ever seen/been around. He instilled into me the art of being gentle, yet assertive with wine. Not to mention that Etude sources from some of the top vineyards in the valley for Cab, and have the most unique estate vineyard for their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris programs, that is just now being put online (first release of estate pinot is 2004).

The 2005 Etude wines (both in barrel and in bottle), are going to be great. The Estate Vineyard is on the outer edge of Carneros, near the Petaluma gap on 116. However, the fruit tastes nothing like your typical Carneros pinot. There's no Carneros mud in this vineyard. It's volcanic soil, well draining, surrounded by a cool climate. This vineyard is one that Soter designed years ago with Beringer, so it's designed for Etude by Soter, with Beringer (now Fosters) money.

I've read posts on vinocellar about people hearing that with the Fosters ownership of Etude, that they are adding in bulk wine to beef up Etude's production. This is simply not true. I can personally attest that Etude culls out an incredible amount of wine that does not make the grade for Etudes Cab or Pinot program.

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Soter was not a mentor to Trujillo.

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Depending upon how you define the term... Ric Henry would say otherwise.