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.
2020 Lucia Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands, California
the Vintage
2020 will certainly leave a lasting mark in the annals of history. The 2020 vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands was no exception. 12 inches of rain fell over the winter months, soaking the thirsty soils. In late March as the world around us closed down, the vines were waking with budbreak—a little later than normal, but a welcome sight after months of cold and wet weather. A moderate spring brought forth strong, healthy growth in the vines, with the prospect of a large crop on the horizon. Cool, coastal fog and afternoon winds had the vines tracking slightly later than normal, but then nearly a week straight of record-high temperatures started August 15th, followed by approaching wildfires and yet another heat spike. The harvest team acted quickly and carefully to bring in the fruit early and maintain integrity and freshness of the grapes.
the Vineyard
Grown exclusively from our Pisoni, Garys’ and Soberanes vineyards, the Lucia appellation-based wines are a wonderful representation of our estate vineyards, of which each block is cultivated to the same high standards. These wines offer excellent value, and Jeb Dunnuck has previously described these AVA blends as “a perfect example of the incredible quality that’s consistently coming from this estate.”
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
Hailing from two of the most renowned sites in this narrow, maritime influenced AVA (61% Soberanes Vineyard and 39% Pisoni Vineyard), the 2020 Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay harnesses its differing origins to maintain an unmistakable, yet delicate tension. Flaunting its youth through a radiant straw hue, this Chardonnay is true to its roots, as the high-elevation rows at the Pisoni Vineyard leave their mark with powerful notes of white peach, red apple skin, and toasted brioche. With added richness comes needed restraint, and the Soberanes Vineyard completes the balancing act with its classically mineral-driven undertones. These boulder-laden soils have created notes of crushed rock, Meyer lemon tart, and crisp pear. Acting as the center of balance, vibrant acidity and layered complexity make these two distinct sites one, and the result is a wine that will continue to amaze for years to come.
| Cases Produced | 490 |
|---|---|
| Retail Price | $50 |
| Release Date | Spring 2022 |
| Winemaker | Jeff Pisoni |
| Barrel Aging | 11 months in 30% New Oak |
|---|---|
| Barrel Origin | 100% French Oak |
| Fermentation | 100% Native Yeast |
Risk and Rewards in the Santa Lucia Highlands:
Farming for the Future. 
Monterey Bay: Geography that Enables Cool-Climate Grapegrowing