2014 Lucia, Soberanes Vineyard Syrah
Santa Lucia Highlands, California

Lucia 2014 SY Soberanes

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.


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 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.

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 on native yeasts 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.

THE VINTAGE

The 2014 growing season in Monterey County was one of the driest on record.  This was the third consecutive drought year, and continued lack of rainfall led to early season stress on the vines. The result was smaller canopies but very phenologically developed fruit. We made multiple, careful pruning passes through each of the vineyards, dropping large amounts of fruit to balance these smaller canopies with the crop levels. Winter and Spring were mild, which led to an early bud break. A cool summer slowed the growing season, and harvest began in the first weeks of September, much earlier than is typical for the AVA.  The 2014 wines possess great elegance, vibrance, and intensity.

TASTING NOTES

The 2014 Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Syrah has an intimidatingly dark color. Yet the aromatics are  vibrant and elegant: a combination achieved from the cool climate and slow growing season.  Fermented at nearly 100% whole cluster, this syrah is complex and covers a wide spectrum of flavors.  Initial floral and spice notes are held together with blackberry undertones and Earl Grey.  Highlights of green tea give lift and intensity to the wine. The tannins are powerful and firm.  For those who enjoy aging wines, this will easily hold in the cellar for two decades. We recommend decanting if the wine is opened in its youth; it will benefit from air.

CASES PRODUCED:
115
RELEASE DATE:
Spring 2016
WINEMAKER:
Jeff Pisoni
BARREL AGING:
15 months in 40% New Oak
BARREL ORIGIN:
100% French
WHOLE CLUSTER:
100%
FERMENTATION:
100% Native Yeast