Pisoni Vineyards Lucy Rose of Pinot Noir 2020
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
Shimmering with a pale salmon hue as it splashes into the glass, the 2020 Lucy Rosé is brilliance captured in a bottle. Pronounced aromas of macerated strawberry, fresh watermelon and nectarine give way to hints of refreshing sea air, as if transporting the senses directly to the windswept hillsides of the Santa Lucia Highlands. On the palate, classic notes of peach, fresh citrus and bright red fruit speak to the minimal skin contact and gentle extraction of delicate flavors coaxed from each berry during careful pressing and a slow fermentation. When balanced with the added volume and texture from neutral oak barrel aging, the crisp, mouthwatering acidity on display awakens the palate, as this wine begs to be the refill of your next empty glass.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Lucy Rosé—the winery donates $1 of every bottle sold to breast cancer aid and research—is an excellent wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits attractive strawberry, a shade of minerality, and a hint of chalk in its aromas and flavors. Enjoy it with fresh salmon and avocado handrolls. (Tasted: March 13, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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2021-
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Spectator
Pisoni Estate is the eponymous Pinot Noir made by the Pisoni Family and sourced from their Pisoni Vineyard. The site was founded and first planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982. His sons have since taken over the family business with Mark as vineyard manager and Jeff the winemaker. To the Pisoni’s, viticulture and winemaking must be seen as a whole, rather than as separate parts. This is essential to producing the best wine possible. The goal of Pisoni Estate is to create a great wine that represents this vineyard, a commitment to the land, and the passion of their family.
The Pisoni family approaches winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, they work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and their own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land they love and respect.
Successful wine is the result of holistic thinking and a synergy of parts. Vineyard manager Mark and vintner Jeff, his brother, work in close collaboration to pass on their father Gary’s vision. Just as Mark approaches growing and harvesting in the vineyards block-by-block, Jeff vinifies in small lots, hand-sorting grapes, observing, tasting, and testing them as they undergo native yeast fermentation, and supervising punch-down by hand. Their wine is the product of their joint sustained and meticulous attention.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.