Lucia by Pisoni Chardonnay Estate Cuvee 2024
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [VM 94] [JD 94] [DM 93] [WS 93]

Notes from the Winemaker:
The 2024 vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands was defined by a cool summer and a welcome warm spell in September. Harvest landed near the midpoint between the early 2022 and late 2023 vintages. Overall, the wines show bright energy and lift with ripened tannins and a polished, layered texture. The season began cold with intermittent storms delivering near-average rainfall (13 inches) that sufficiently charged the soils. Our native cover crop responded early, and vine growth began strong. Flowering and set tracked later than normal due to the cooler springtime temperatures. Budbreak arrived on schedule in late March, followed by a mild spring and summer that kept the pace of ripening steady. As we entered September, two temperature swings shaped our picking decisions.

Harvest began in the first week of September as warm temperatures arrived and opened an early picking window. Harvest then came to an abrupt halt in mid-September when temperatures dropped to unusually cold levels. Ripening slowed and phenolic development stretched out, so we waited patiently, sampling daily and walking the vineyard. Over a week later, temperatures began to rise and harvest resumed at a more rapid pace. The resulting Pisoni and Lucia wines show the beauty and precision that come from a slow, steady season, paired with the depth and supple texture from a riper tannin year. 2024 brought a rare combination of conditions that produced beautifully balanced wines.

Vineyard: Grown exclusively from our Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards, the Lucia Estate Cuvée of Chardonnay is 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.”

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: The 2024 Lucia Chardonnay Estate Cuvée is built on the tension and harmony of our two distinctly coastal sites. A blend of 68% Soberanes Vineyard and 32% Pisoni Vineyards, it brings together the bracing, fog-laden acidity of Soberanes with the high-elevation breadth and texture of Pisoni Vineyards. Pale lemon in the glass with youthful green highlights, the wine opens with lifted aromas of Meyer lemon zest, Bosc pear, crushed rock and hints of jasmine. On the palate, bright citrus oil and white peach are layered over a rich mid-palate, finishing with a cleansing line of acidity and subtle coastal salinity. Fermented with native yeast and aged with zero racking for the most restrained touch, this Chardonnay is both generous and focused.

Cases Produced 650

Release Date Spring 2026

Winemaker Jeff Pisoni

Barrel Aging 12 months in 30% New Oak

Cooperage 100% French Oak

Fermentation 100% Native Yeast

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Vinous Media:
 "The 2024 Chardonnay Estate Cuvee sizzles with tension and linear energy, impressing with its sense of cool-climate drive and forward motion. Orange oil, chamomile, chalk and mint kick across the palate, wrapping around a core of sweet pear fruit that feels so fresh yet maintains pliancy and gentle grip. The 2024 has such character" - Billy Norris (May 2026)

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"From all barrel-fermented, estate-grown grapes, about half Pisoni, half Soberanes, the 2024 Chardonnay Estate Cuvee is unfiltered and unfined and meant to be approachable in its youth. There’s texture and generosity on the medium-bodied palate of mineral-driven complexity, bright in fresh acidity and rounded layers of Meyer lemon, a linear, focused, energetic white that will broadly appeal. Drink now through 2032." - Virginia Boone (Jun 2026)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Taut and fresh Chardonnay, all estate fruit, a blend of the (majority) Pisoni old vineyard material and the Sobranes vineyard, 08 planting a different Wente clone Chardonnays, that lead to five different picks at different ripeness levels. One year in 30% new French oak, full malolactic, no stirring. It’s classic and very well-made, accentuating stone fruits, citrus, and poached pear." - Clive Pursehouse (Feb 2026)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Generous and rich, with marmalade, candied ginger and grilled pineapple flavors that are intense and juicy. Details of papaya, mango and lemon curd gain momentum on the finish alongside green cardamom, white tea, lemon cheesecake, orange blossoms and gingersnap. Drink now through 2038. 650 cases made." - MW (July 2026)