Pisoni, Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, 2022

Overview of the Wine
This land has an identity.   These mountains, this soil, the rocks, the quality of air and the wind. All these traits contribute to a character unique to this very part of the earth. Our goal as a family is to work with nature, through farming and crafting wines, and to preserve this identity in wines that express this very site.

The personality of this land was first recognized when Gary Pisoni began planting grapes in 1982 — some of the very first in this region. Each year we learn more about the characteristics of our vineyards, farming and winemaking to steadily improve the sustainability of what we do, and the wines we strive to create.

We approach winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, we work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and our own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land we love and respect.

Winemaker
Gary Pisoni

Grape / Blend
100% Pinot Noir

Origin
Santa Lucia Highlands, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
A stunning melange of three truly unique vineyard sites (52% Pisoni, 18% Garys’, and 30% Soberanes), the 2021 Lucia Pinot Noir exhales deeply as its ruby hue trickles down the side of the glass. Notes of spiced plum, black cherry and sage quickly fill the glass. This wine is initially tightly wound, but each passing minute allows for new layers and aromas to unfold. At first, subtle notes of dried raspberry and sous bois were most prominent, but time in the glass promotes the expression of richer, more powerful notes of black cherry, crushed strawberry, sandalwood, and baking spice. The trademarked coastal fog and stiff afternoon winds of the Santa Lucia Highlands provide the refreshing acidity necessary for a long life in bottle.

97 Points - The Wine Independent
The 2022 Pinot Noir Pisoni Estate is the flagship Pinot from Santa Lucia Highlands' most famous name. Medium ruby-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with fragrant notes of violets, star anise, and roses leading to a core of wild blueberries and ripe plums plus a hint of black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated and multi-layered, with black and blue fruit supported by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

95 Points - James Suckling
Brilliant, super-focused fruit flavors light up this striking, full-bodied wine. Vivid red cherries, black cherries, blackberries and subtle baking spices come together on the lightly tannic palate. Tangy raspberry, sour cherry and black tea notes echo in the finish. Made from a blend of Pisoni-owned vineyards, it shows great depth and complexity. Drink or hold.

95 Points - Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. Yields were down as much as 50% across the ranch, but that imbued the 2022 with even more depth and weight than usual. Sweet black licorice, crushed rocks, and macerated cherry/berry fruit settle in, lifted by fresh, citrus-like acidity. The Pisoni seems to propel itself through the mouth, somehow striking a balance between soft, caressing textures and unmistakable brawn. As a wine of complexity, class, and refinement, you can easily feel the pedigree of this site and the careful winemaking here. That said, a year or two in the cellar to untangle some of its many layers wouldn't hurt.

Product size: 750ml