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The Pisoni Family announces the 2014 Spring release of their Lucia wines. This release consists of the 2012 vintages of Lucia Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah from the Soberanes Vineyard, as well as the Santa Lucia Highlands cuvées.
The Pisoni Family announces the 2014 Spring release of their Lucia wines. This release consists of the 2012 vintages of Lucia Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah from the Soberanes Vineyard, as well as the Santa Lucia Highlands cuvées.
The Pisoni Family announces the 2014 Spring release of their Lucia wines. This release consists of the 2012 vintages of Lucia Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah from the Soberanes Vineyard, as well as the Santa Lucia Highlands cuvées.
ASSEMBLING LUCIA WINES has nothing to do with assembly-line practic-
es. Henry Ford could produce a Model T in 93 minutes. His practices of division of labor, repetition and mechanization are cost effective and effcient. But Gary, Mark and Jeff Pisoni work together as a team dedicated to handcrafting their wines. The 2012 Lucia Soberanes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah and the Santa Lucia High- lands cuves took two years in the making. A truism rather than a timeworn clich, winemaking does begin in the vineyard. Every day, Mark walks through the blocks, examining the vines as though they were his two small children. He looks at their growth, balance and cluster development. During the summer, the viticulturist checks stress levels by observing a leaf blades angle to the sun and its shade of green. Mark pinches the grape berries between his fngers to note the tension in their skin, monitoring their ripeness. He and father Gary (left) smile about the balanced vines of the Soberanes Vineyard, a result of their diligent care and Mother Natures consistent weather patterns in 2012, which allowed the grapes to glide into a ripeness zone of harmonious sugars, acid and tannin. On a harvest morning, Jeff joins his older brother in the vineyard. The winemaker tosses grapes into his mouth, biting down on the seeds to taste tannin development. Crunchy seeds are a good sign, as they wont impart bitterness to the wine, and so is the deep crimson color staining Jeff s fn- gertips when he squeezes the grape skins. Theres no instruction manual that tells the Pisonis when the vines need water, what a wine grape should taste like when ready for harvest or when to drain a tank of Pinot Noir (cover). Their decisions are intuitive and informed by experience. And all three agree that the 2012 harvest was spectacular in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Jeff notes his favorite barrel selections, tasting and testing results in preparation to propose blends for the 2012 vintage. DESPITE THE INTOXICATING PERFUME OF THE WINERY, Jeff always stays focused on the cues emanating from the fermentation tanks. The aromas alone give early indicators of potential blends, and the winemaker notes and remembers the heady scents of particular lots throughout the year. Sight, taste and sound partner with smell. Jeff gauges the progress of the fermentation by gazing into a tank and observing the color that has seeped from the berries. He con- stantly tastes the individual lots, which consist of three to four tons of grapes fermented together from one vineyard area. Once the winemaker transfers a lot from a tank to six to eight oak barrels, he begins to develop a personal relationship with each one. Wine in one barrel might taste really good immediately, and wine in another might come around slowly or not shine at all. Jeff also listens to each barrel, placing his ear against the bung to eavesdrop and hear the snap-crackle-pop of the fermenting wine. He tempers his sensory observations with scientifc testing. All the while, he takes copious notes and ponders over selections for the fnal blend. Eventually Jeff combines samples from the barrels and lots in composite bottles for blend trials that continue for months. He sits down with Mark and Gary to taste, discuss and decide upon the best blend for each Lucia wine. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they disagreeand defer to the winemakers expertise. The wines are gently transferred, one barrel at a time (top right), to a stainless steel tank for blending. Then two years of anticipation and hard work are bottled in a single day. Whether in the vineyard or the winery, the personal touch requires more work and at- tentiveness than if employing more mechanically effcient methods. Gary, Mark and Jeff may not be able to produce a Lucia wine in 93 minutes, but they might sit in a Model T parked on a dirt road near their beloved vinesand sip from their 2012 vintage for that length of time, while thinking about the two years it took to get there. During the racking process (top), a bulldog uses inert argon gas to push the wine gently from the barrel to a bottling tank for blending. Bottling takes place within days. Gleaming glass (bottom) and stainless steel toolsfasks, topping guns, racking arms, whisks and hose fttings may look impersonal but require the human touch. Lucia is owned by the Pisoni family, which has farmed the region for three generations, along the way becoming masters of both grapegrowing and winemaking. -Wine Spectator (Te Top 100 edition, December 31, 2013-January 15, 2014) Growers are now putting their experience to use in a newer, second generation of vineyards that have been developed over the last few years. Tose vineyardsspecically I am thinking of sites like Soberanes . . . are among the most exciting because they reect all that has been learned over the years. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous (July 2013) RELEASE SCHEDULE To emphasize our dedication and long-term commitment to each of our three Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards, we offer our Lucia and Pisoni wines according to the vineyard from which the grapes are sourced: SPRING: Soberanes Vineyard wines and Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands cuves SUMMER: Garys Vineyard wines FALL: Pisoni Vineyards wines LUCIA VINEYARDS & WINERY PO Box 908 Gonzales, CA 93926 ph: 800.946.3130 fax: 831.675.2557 luciavineyards.com Spring 2014 Writer: Susan Pisoni Tavernetti Design: Chelsea McKenna Photography: Rachel Balunsat and the Pisoni Family SOBERANES VINEYARD SELECTIONS 2012 Lucia Soberanes Chardonnay: A pure and laser-like focus directs a channel of fresh lemon peel, crushed stones and citrus blossom. On the palate, the wine shows the elegance and texture we love from this vineyard: an initially broad profle that converges with the natural acidity to a tight fnish. The Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay inspires food pairings with its vibrant fnish that carries on throughout the palate. Aspiring for purity and like all Lucia wines, the Chardonnay is unfltered and may show a slight sediment. 2012 Lucia Soberanes Pinot Noir: Floral and vibrant, the crim- son-tinged Pinot Noir from the Soberanes Vineyard exudes the en- ticing aromas of a fower garden. Its not easy to fnd wines that are predominately more foral than fruit, but the Soberanes Vineyard selections exemplify thislavender, violet and rose petalwith a spice rack of undertones. A broad and lengthy palate ensues with strikingly strong tannins for structure, indicating the aging potential of the wine. 2012 Lucia Soberanes Syrah: A striking and pensive wine, the So- beranes Syrah shows an intimidatingly deep, opaque color but with such a delicate purple rim, as if to hint of the seductive fragrance to follow. The wine is exceptionally foral and perfumed with rich violet and blackberry essence. The palate has broad and powerful depth, yet a unique way of carrying such concentration without be- gin heavy. A seemingly infnite current of texture fows on the palate. SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS CUVES 2012 Lucia Chardonnay: Green/gold in color and generous with its aroma, a consistent character of the 2012 vintage, the Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay is open and expressive with a complex array of bosc pear, jasmine, green apple and brioche. The palate is broad and approachable with notes of white peach that unfold into a long fnish. This wine is a blend of fruit from the Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards. 2012 Lucia Pinot Noir: This wine is a great example of the remarkable 2012 vintage. The aromas leap from the glass, envel- oping the taster with a rich and pure bouquet of fresh fruit laced with soft notes of Earl Grey tea and spice. With fruit from the Pisoni, Garys and Soberanes vineyards, the Lucia Pinot Noir possesses a harmonious balance between the deep concentration of favor and the frm tannin and acidity, ultimately showing the potential to cellar and develop for many years. ROS 2013 Lucy Ros of Pinot Noir: Light strawberry in color, the 2013 Lucy Ros is fresh and bright with highlights of rose pet- al, near-ripe strawberry, orange peel and seashells. The palate is crisp with refreshing acidity, indicating a wonderful pair with a wide variety of dishes and occasions. Enjoy chilled.