Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir 2010 - 1.5 L Magnum -
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [WS 93] [WA 92] [VM 92]

About the Winery:
It all started with a dream about Pinot Noir. A true visionary in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Gary Pisoni has worked tirelessly since collecting and making his first wines in the 1970’s, planting Pisoni Vineyards in 1982, and the producing of the first Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir with his sons in 1998. As dreamers often do, Gary felt something on his family’s land that was seemingly not there and followed his intuition relentlessly to uncover it. Multiple costly drilling attempts failed before bringing water up from beneath the solid granite that makes up the hillsides, a feat so many believed to be impossible.

About the Estate Pinot Noir:

Vineyard:

• One of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands: 1,300 feet
• Decomposed granite soil. High amounts of schist and quartz
• Heavy fog influence
• 36 planted acres with 30 individually farmed blocks or sub-blocks
• 100% sustainable farming
• Hand-farmed & hand-harvested

Each year, we dedicate our energy and efforts to crafting one distinguished Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir which demonstrates our connection with the vineyard and communicates the nature of its hardy, granitic soils and the windswept hillsides that rise around it. We practice great vigilance over the fruit, aiming for modest yields in order to obtain our Estate Pinot Noir’s intense character, rich color, and exuberant aromatics. Production is extremely limited, varying annually between 500-800 cases.

Ratings & Reviews

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Captures a rich, vivid mix of dark berry, spice, loamy earth and cedar, with the blackberry and wild berry flavors driving the core. Ends with chewy, gripping tannins that let the flavors cling. 580 cases made." – JL (Dec 2012)

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"Bright ruby. Vibrant raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by Asian spices and candied rose. The palate offers lively red berry and bitter cherry flavors enlivened by notes of blood orange and smoky minerals. The strikingly long, spicy finish features fine-grained tannins and a late floral kick." – Josh Raynolds (Nov 2012)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2010 Pinot Noir Pisoni comes across as more structured than most of the wines made by the Pisoni family in this vintage. Firm yet well-integrated tannins form the backdrop for an expressive tapestry of bright red fruit, flowers, licorice and spices that gradually unfold in the glass. The use of 20% whole clusters brings out an aromatic register that is quite appealing. A poised, beautifully articulated finish rounds things out in style. This is a great showing from the Pisoni family, one of the early pioneers of the Santa Lucia Highland and one of its most eloquent exponents today." – Antonio Galloni (Aug 2012)