By focusing solely on Pinot Noir from the most prestigious vineyard sites in California and Oregon, and by vinifying each barrel separately by lot, clone, yeast and cooper, we champion individuality of place and intensity of flavor in each wine we produce.
Cases: 433
Release Date: September 2007
Winemakers' Comments:
The Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir has been one of our signature wines ever since we started working with the fruit back in 1997. Undoubtedly, some of our finest wines have come from this famed Santa Lucia Highlands location (the 1999 and 2000 come to mind). However, in the last few years, we have felt that we needed to reinvigorate our Pisoni Vineyard winemaking. In 2006 we took some concrete steps to accomplish this. Specifically, we picked our section of the Big Block in two different passes over a week apart. We also utilized whole clusters in some of the ferments in hopes of increasing the complexity of the wine, we bled off some of the juice in hopes of further concentrating the must, and we employed more native yeasts in the ferment than in previous vintages. Finally, we were extremely stringent in selecting the barrels that made the cut for the final wine with only 30% of the barrels making their way into this wine. Our goal with the Pisoni Vineyard has been to produce a wine with superb weight and depth (not too hard given the innate character of the Pisoni fruit) and yet also with increased complexity and layers of flavor. The 2006 goes a long way to accomplishing this. Though not restrained (constrained would actually be a better word for Pisoni) this wine is tight. The first taste reveals the fruit and richness that so often typifies Pisoni but as you continue to taste the wine you notice the influence of the whole clusters, the range of flavors from the native yeasts, and then a finish that combines ripe tannins and good natural acidity. Given the proclivity of the Pisoni Vineyard wines to improve with time we can only believe that this wine will amply reward those to want to age it for five or more years.
- Adam & Dianna Lee
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