Lucia by Pisoni "Soberanes Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2021
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [JD 95] [VM 95] [WE 95]

With generations of farming history in Monterey County, and a commitment to making exceptional wines, the Pisoni Family hand-crafts the Lucia wines from the Pisoni, Garys’ and Soberanes Vineyards of the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Tasting Notes:
With a deep ruby core that borders on shades of purple, the 2021 Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir is quiet in its youth, and the aromas slowly emerge from newly poured glass. As each fleeting moment passes, this wine’s tight profile begins to loosen and reveal waves of aromas. Notes of spice, sandalwood, and vanilla unfurl to reveal sumptuous notes of plum, raspberry, su bois, and floral hints of rose petal. Red berries and black cherry flavors provide a rich, luxurious mouthfeel, while rustic undertones of dried herbs, black tea, and spice from 34% whole cluster fermentation create an experience that is full throttle, yet restrained and elegant all at once. The slow fermentation with exclusively indigenous yeast is partly to thank for the superb purity or fruit and structure. It is the foggy and wind-driven influences of the Santa Lucia Highlands that provides the fresh acidity to ensure this wine will age beautifully into the next decade.

Other Information

About the 2021 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.

About the Vineyard:
The Soberanes Vineyard is the latest joint venture between the Pisoni and Franscioni families. Situated on the Santa Lucia Highlands Bench adjacent to the Garys’ Vineyard and recently named “one of the appellation’s most esteemed properties” by the Wine Enthusiast, the site features tightly spaced vines and is planted to 33 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The clonal material planted in the loamy, rocky soil is very diverse and features over a dozen of the most renowned heritage selections from California and Burgundy.

About 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.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard saw a touch more stems and was fermented with 35% whole clusters, with the aging spanning 11 months in 45% new French oak. It needs air to show at its best and gives up beautiful red and black fruits as well as black tea, spicy herbs, and foresty, earthy nuances. With more moderate acidity, a round, supple, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following decade. It's another brilliant wine. Drink 2025 - 2035."

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
Deep and focused aromas of boysenberry meet with loamy earth and toasty woodspice on the nose of this wine. Hearty tannins frame the exuberant palate, which is ripe with berry jam, clove and crushed herb flavors, yet balanced by the detailed structure. — Matt Kettmann

95 Points - Vinous:
The 2021 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard is a dark, brooding wine. Blueberry, lavender, cloves, new leather, incense and dried herbs add to an impression of gravitas. This dark, mysterious Pinot has a ton to offer. Vibrant acids and sneaky tannins lend energy, but the Soberanes is a decidedly potent Pinot.