the Vintage

The 2024 vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands was defined by a cool summer and a welcome warm spell in September. Harvest landed near the midpoint between the early 2022 and late 2023 vintages. Overall, the wines show bright energy and lift with ripened tannins and a polished, layered texture. The season began cold with intermittent storms delivering near-average rainfall (13 inches) that sufficiently charged the soils. Our native cover crop responded early, and vine growth began strong. Flowering and set tracked later than normal due to the cooler springtime temperatures. Budbreak arrived on schedule in late March, followed by a mild spring and summer that kept the pace of ripening steady. As we entered September, two temperature swings shaped our picking decisions.

Harvest began in the first week of September as warm temperatures arrived and opened an early picking window. Harvest then came to an abrupt halt in mid-September when temperatures dropped to unusually cold levels. Ripening slowed and phenolic development stretched out, so we waited patiently, sampling daily and walking the vineyard. Over a week later, temperatures began to rise and harvest resumed at a more rapid pace. The resulting Pisoni and Lucia wines show the beauty and precision that come from a slow, steady season, paired with the depth and supple texture from a riper tannin year. 2024 brought a rare combination of conditions that produced beautifully balanced wines.

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. Garys’ Vineyard is planted exclusively to Pinot Noir, and the 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

From the gently sloping and east-facing hillside, the 2024 Lucia Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard is intense and structured. A deep ruby color foreshadows the concentration, as aromas of black cherry and crushed blackberry lift from the glass alongside notes of baking spice and subtle dried herbs. The palate is dense and layered, showcasing the nearly thirty years of vine age. The dark fruit is supported by firm, finely knit tannins that give the wine structure and energy. With air, savory spice, graphite, and subtle French oak builds into a long finish that speaks to both the vineyard site and thoughtful winemaking. Enjoy this wine now or age for over decade in the cellar.