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

The Soberanes Vineyard is the latest joint venture between the Pisoni and Franscioni families. Situated on the Santa Lucia Highlands Bench adjacent to the Garys’ Vineyard and recently named “one of the appellation’s most esteemed properties” by the Wine Enthusiast, the site features tightly spaced vines and is planted to 33 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The clonal material planted in the loamy, rocky soil is very diverse and features over a dozen of the most renowned heritage selections from California and Burgundy.

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

Dark and nearly opaque in the glass, the 2024 Lucia Syrah Soberanes Vineyard is both powerful and precise—an expression of the combined power and elegance one can obtain with Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah. Aromas of blueberry and blackcurrant are interlaced with notes of black olive, cracked pepper, and savory spice. The 100% whole cluster fermentation is a nod to the old world and incorporates beautifully into the wine brining added freshness and floral notes. On the palate, tannins are ripe and approachable with an underlying mineral edge that keeps the wine lifted. Subtle graphite and sandalwood evolve over the finish. Tightly coiled in its youth, this Syrah will unfold beautifully with age.