2015 Lucia, Garys’ Vineyard Syrah
Santa Lucia Highlands, California


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

Garys’ Vineyard has been named “one of the most famous vineyards in California” by Lettie Teague in the Wall Street Journal. It is a joint venture between Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, two native growers of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes have enjoyed long, slow growing seasons in this 50-acre parcel since 1997. The vineyard’s position on a sloping hillside in the center of the 16-mile long appellation offers a true representation of the Santa Lucia Highlands: alluvial soils with heavy fog and strong, cold winds in the summer.

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

Farming was extremely important in 2015.  An unseasonably warm winter led to the earliest bud break on record in the Santa Lucia Highlands, effectively shifting the growing season to the early months of the year. May was cold, overcast and windy. Flowering occurred during these fierce weather conditions, resulting in a poor set.  Shatter was rampant.   It became clear early on that 2015 would be a low-yielding vintage.  With crop levels down 70% in some blocks, it was imperative that the remaining fruit be tended with utmost care.  Fortunately, summer cooperated with mild temperatures and normal levels of fog, so vine development kept its usual pace.  Harvest began the last week in August and spanned the month of September.  Despite the early start and finish to harvest, total time for fruit on the vines was relatively typical, and Brix levels were lower than normal due to one more year of drought stress on the vines and early phenolic maturity.

TASTING NOTES

The inky purple-colored Garys’ 2015 Syrah possesses intense aromatics that seem to deepen its moody characteristics. Black fruits and savory herbaceous notes combine with a poised earthiness to fill the glass. Allow for additional aeration, and you’ll savor its beautiful balance of black cherry, peppercorns and leather. The early development of this Syrah on the vines allowed for more whole-cluster fermentation and greater complexity. Large, 132-gallon puncheon barrels have enhanced its focus and fostered slower aging in the cellar. A mouth-coating texture develops into a linear, refinished finish with a bright measure of youthful acidity.

CASES PRODUCED:
115
RELEASE DATE:
Fall 2017
WINEMAKER:
Jeff Pisoni
BARREL AGING:
15 Months in 35% New Oak
BARREL ORIGIN:
100% French Oak
WHOLE CLUSTER:
74%
FERMENTATION:
100% Native Yeast

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