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.
2016 Lucia, Garys’ Vineyard Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands, California
the 2016 VINTAGE
After a difficult 2015 harvest and years of prolonged drought, the 2016 vintage saw beautiful weather conditions and a welcomed average yield of fruit. Rain returned to Monterey County in the beginning of the 2016 season (approximately 12 inches, the most our area has seen since 2011). Budbreak began the second week in March and vines showed more life and energy due to the early-season soil moisture. Strong vine growth required additional labor to tend to the shoots. Summer saw a balanced fruit set and weather conditions typical of the windy, fog-blanketed Santa Lucia Highlands. August temperatures were cooler than average which allowed for a slow, gentle ripening up to harvest. Patience was necessary for harvest—it began the first week of September and continued through the first week of October.
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.
the 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.
TASTING NOTES
Truly dark purple from rim to core, our 2016 Garys’ Vineyard Syrah dazzles, displaying just how much this foggy, windswept vineyard can offer. This deep-hued wine marries fresh crushed blueberry, black licorice, and vanilla with savory notes of Kalamata olive, wild game, and a hint of leather. As the wine evolves in the glass, its tightly wound structure softens, revealing an expansive mouthfeel layered with juicy dark berries and white pepper. 2016 saw minimal whole cluster fermentation, which resulted in a wine with sumptuous but approachable tannin that allows for early enjoyment. Nonetheless, we always farm and craft this wine for longevity, cellaring it in large 132-gallon puncheons that support the fresh character and focused acidity that enable it to age for years in the cellar.
| Cases Produced | 102 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Summer 2018 |
| Winemaker | Jeff Pisoni |
| Barrel Aging | 14 months in 50% New Oak |
|---|---|
| Barrel Origin | 100% French Oak |
| Whole Cluster | 0% |
| Fermentation | 100% Native Yeast |
Mark Pisoni Named One of 20 Most Admired Grapegrowers 
Jeb Dunnuck on the 2016 Vintage 
Monterey Bay: Geography that Enables Cool-Climate Grapegrowing