Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée 2021 (Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [WE 95]

Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée 2021
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [WE 95]

Name: Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée 2021 (Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [WE 95]
Brand: Pisoni Family Vineyards
SKU: PL21PNEC
Price: 54.97 USD
Availability: InStock

$60.00 $54.97 Save $5.03

WE95

Size

750 mL

Quantity

Allow Vintage Substitution?

Notes from the Winemaker:

the VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands was cool, calm, and collected – a trifecta of traits that is welcomed by any grape grower or winemaker. The winter months were dry overall, receiving only about seven inches of rainfall, and forcing vines to reach deep into the rocky soils beneath them. Seemingly a reminder to be careful what you wish for, the rain was welcomed but not easy to predict. Four of the seven inches came at the end of January, keeping the team on their toes to manage erosion and flooding in the mountain vineyards. Buds broke a week or so later than normal, near the end of March, likely due to the preceding cold winter temperatures. Spring fever and slow growth forced the team to exercise patience and diligence amongst the vines. The Summer followed with mild temperatures, and the vines continued to grow with shorter canopies due to low winter rainfall. It was decided early on to remove extra shoots to create a smaller vine to ensure fruit would fully ripen. Smaller canopies and cooperative weather in the Fall allowed for a gentle harvest, with little stress to rush until the last week of September when temperatures began to rise. Overall, yields were above average with cluster weights staying consistent throughout harvest. The resulting wines are a stunning reflection of a year of cooperation from & collaboration with mother nature, impeccable attention in the vineyards, and exceptional care in the cellar.

the VINEYARD

Grown exclusively from our Pisoni, Garys’ and Soberanes vineyards, the Lucia appellation-based wines are a wonderful representation of our estate vineyards, of which each block is cultivated to the same high standards. These wines offer excellent value, and Jeb Dunnuck has previously described these AVA blends as “a perfect example of the incredible quality that’s consistently coming from this estate.”

the WINEMAKING

The Pisoni Family is committed to raising and hand-crafting exceptional wines. The limited-production Lucia wines are created using classic, gentle and thoughtful winemaking techniques. Hand-picked and sorted grapes are fermented with native yeast and aged in carefully selected French oak barrels. Our state-of-the-art winemaking facility uses gravity flow as part of a custom design conceived to merge the estate vineyards and winery. This affords us complete control of the farming and winemaking process, ensuring consistently superior quality.

TASTING NOTES

Entirely estate-farmed and sourced from these premier vineyard sites within the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2021 Lucia Estate Cuvée of Pinot Noir represents our continued dedication to excellence in farming and winemaking. A sumptuous blend of 60% Pisoni Vineyard, 23% Garys’ Vineyard, and 17% Soberanes Vineyard, this wine offers up enticing aromas of strawberry compote, juicy cranberry, sandalwood, and black tea leaves, all contained within the embrace of its deep ruby hue. Carefully monitored fermentation temperatures and methodical extraction techniques have produced a wine of remarkable depth, concentration, and complexity. Layers of black cherry, Mission fig, spiced plum, and berry crumble provide a stepping stone for more subtle hints of fresh sage, clove, and vanilla bean to make their voices heard. A true snapshot of these wind-swept vines, this Pinot Noir finishes with vibrant acidity and a distinct, yet noticeably approachable structure. Don’t be surprised to see this wine continuing to amaze for years to come.

CASES PRODUCED	2256

RELEASE DATE	Fall 2022
WINEMAKER	Jeff Pisoni

BARREL AGING	11 month in 53% New Oak
BARREL ORIGIN	100% French Oak
WHOLE CLUSTER	15%
FERMENTATION	100% Native Yeast

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This bottling manages to be both lush and bright at once, starting with aromas of crisp cherry compote, fresh raspberry, mace and elegant French toast spices. A sprightly energy dances across the palate, where juicy dark red fruit flavors are lifted by lavender, carnation and rose petal elements." -MATT KETTMANN (3/1/23)

93 Points - Vinous Media (for 2019):
"Deep, shimmering magenta. An expressive bouquet evokes black raspberry, cherry-cola, candied flowers, oak spices and smoky minerals. Sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, showing very good depth and energy to its sappy red and dark berry, mocha and spicecake flavors. Closes smooth, seamless and quite long, with harmonious tannins sneaking in late. This wine is made from fruit from three different estate vineyards: 52% Pisoni, 30% Soberanes and 18% Garys'; 20% whole clusters and 40% new French oak. Drink between 2023-2032." -JR (5/1/22)

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (for 2019):
"As with the appellation Chardonnay, I loved the 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, This beauty offers everything you could want from a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. Loads of framboise, ripe strawberries, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and baking spices all make an appearance on the nose, and it's a forward, medium to full-bodied, textured effort ideal for drinking over the coming 3-5 years." (7/22/21)