2019 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir 1.5 L
This justifiably famous site, long considered the best in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, produces wines that are enigmatically powerful, yet detailed, nuanced, and complex. With power to spare, this site tends to revel in opulent, large-scale versions of Pinot Noir. The wine is supple and dense, with layers of red and blue fruits and clove spice. The tannins are broad, mouth-coating and resolved, creating a rich and creamy mid-palate with a long and detailed finish that keeps the flavors pumping. The typical high acidity found at this cool site keeps the wine fresh, pure, and elegant.
2019 was an excellent year. The modestly wet winter led to an unusual spring with six inches of rain in late May. The extra water caused strong vine canopy growth necessitating extra leaf pulling to improve air flow and suppress disease. No significant problems persisted as the vines moved into a delightful summer, with warm days tempered by cool afternoon winds from the Pacific. Crop levels were average and weather at harvest was particularly pleasant, with the fruit ripening evenly, and critically, not too quickly. The 2019 wines have rich, supple structures with fine-grained, plush tannins supported by juicy, fresh fruit flavors and clearly defined vineyard characters. These precocious, delicious wines should require less cellar time to reach an ideal drinking stage.
This famous vineyard is situated above the Salinas Valley near the town of Gonzales, in Monterey County. Perched on a sandy mesa, Pisoni is the benchmark for superlative Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Reflecting a perfect convergence of aspect, site and soil, it has consistently produced one of Patz & Hall’s most complex, extracted and amazingly intense wines.
100% Burgundian French oak barrels (70% new; 30% 1-2-year old)
Bottled without filtration to preserve the wine’s aromas and flavors and enhance aging potential
- Type:
- Red
- Varietal:
- Pinot Noir
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Santa Lucia Highlands
- Vintage:
- 2019
- Blend:
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Fermentation:
- Multi-yeast fermentations (native yeast, followed by cultured yeast); 10% whole cluster added; 100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel