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.
2019 Lucia, Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, California
the Vintage
The beautiful weather and mild seasons of 2018 continued into 2019, cultivating another excellent year for grape growers and winemakers. The 2019 vintage saw 15.2” of winter rainfall. This is dry by most region’s standards, but a very nice amount for the Santa Lucia Highlands. It provided good soil moisture to start the season. Budbreak began late due to the lengthy cold front in February and March, which brought snowfall to the tops of the Santa Lucia mountain range. As the season transitioned into summer, the canopies were strong and the weather remained cool with heavy fog. Verasion developed late but progressed quickly as temperatures rose. This was beneficial in creating a consistent level of development and ripeness.
Approaching fall, weather remained steady, yet the drying soils brought harvest about more quickly: our Chardonnay grapes from Soberanes Vineyard were the first to harvest on September 13. The Pinot Noir harvest started with the Garys’ Vineyard on September 14. First harvest at Pisoni Estate was Pinot Noir on September 20. The harvest then continued at a steady gallop until the final day of picking on October 16. The resulting wines show great purity and focus, with richness and concentration and exceptionally fine tannins. The 2019 vintage brings a profile that is generous in flavor, but still refined and built for aging.
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 with native yeast 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
The result of another spectacular growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2019 Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir is an exquisite offering from this legendary site. Richly hued in the glass, this vibrant, medium ruby wine sings with concentrated aromas of raspberry liqueur, black cherry, and rose petal. Adding depth and complexity with each swirl, distinct notes of sandalwood and baking spice create a constantly evolving and unmistakable bouquet. Capitalizing on the character from the alluvial soils of this gently sloped, east-facing vineyard, the vines ripened each cluster slowly and evenly, benefitting from wind-swept summer afternoons. Coating the palate like a layer of velvet, flavors of strawberry compote, kirsch, and black tea are backed by hints of toasty, spicy oak and vibrant acidity. A stunning representation of this storied varietal in its youth, this wine will continue to develop gracefully for more than a decade.
| Cases Produced | 520 |
|---|---|
| Retail Price | $70 |
| Release Date | Summer 2021 |
| Winemaker | Jeff Pisoni |
| Barrel Aging | 12 months in 38% New Oak |
|---|---|
| Barrel Origin | 100% French Oak |
| Whole Cluster | 8% |
| Fermentation | 100% Native Yeast |
2019 Lucia, Garys’ Vineyard Syrah 
2018 Lucia, Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir 
The Color Palette of Pinot Noir