You’ve probably heard of the Pisoni family, one of Santa Lucia Highlands first families of pinot noir. Branching off from the family business, Jeff Pisoni launched Lucia, a collection built to showcase the three vineyards the family has become famous for – Lucia.
The first vintage of Lucia debuted in 2000 with the Lucia Pinot Noir from the Garys’ Vineyard. It was the beginning of a new chapter for the Pisoni family, with Mark and Jeff Pisoni joining their father Gary to pursue a shared dream of building the family wine business and adding winemaking to grape growing.
With a career that spans Columbia, France, and now California, she has built her reputation at such houses as Chateau Haut-Brion and other luminaries in Bordeaux, Cognac, and Burgundy. Making her first vintage in California in 2004, Bibiana learned the art of Sonoma wine at Peay, La Crema and Lynmar to name a few. In 2012 she started her own label, Alma de Cattleya, and joined forces with her husband Jeff as a consulting winemaker dynamic duo in Sonoma and Napa.
2019 Alma de Cattleya Sauvignn Planc – Sourced from five sites in Sonoma COunty, barrel aging in neutral oak adds some body versus stianless steel. The bright citrus notes are ripe and not sharp, and the rounded citrus notes make this wine an easy porch pounder. $22
2017 Alma de Cattleya Chardonnay. Sourced from various sites in the Russian River Valley and the true Sonoma Coast, this is a classic California cool climate Chardonnay. Medium gold in color, the color of the wine has one expecting an old school butter bomb – but you would be mistaken. The nose is subtle at first with stone fruit and ripe lemon. THe brilliant acidity is kept in check by the rich and intense fruit profile. Ripe apples, honey, and ripe peaches are layered in citrus and butter. The freshness is further maintained by aging in neutral oak for 15 months, so there is just a hint of spice from the oak but nothing overwhelming. A fresh and fruity, lean Chard that I would be happy to drink. $24
2018 Lucia Vineyards Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, It’s difficult to compare these two Charddonays, as they are so very different, but I will say that when I first tasted the Lucia, I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. I often don’t like the bold expression that can come from Santa Lucia Highlands but this wine was exceptional.
Sourced from the Pisoni, Gary’s and Soberanes properties (all within the PIsoni family holdings), the grapes were hand picked and sorted to make the blend. Selected barrels of Pisoni and Soberanes chardonnay were blended to master the perfect expression of Santa Lucia Highlands. Classic flavors of ripe pear, baked apple, and citrus are married with orange blossom and river ricks.
The oak is certainly present, but not overwhelming, with hints of nutmeg and baking spice due to the 11 months in 32% new French oak barrels. The light hand iwth the oak meets the brightness and structure of this wine beautifully.
This wine is a perfect example of a white wine that can age, with its high acidity and bright fruit in its youth. $45
2018 Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir – The Santa Lucia Highlands are an ideal location for Pinot Noir. With the cool coastal fog influencing the hot inland valley, you have vineyards from the valley floor to the top of the hills. As they say in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location!
In 2018, the weather was made for a fabulous vintage. Harvested beginnin September 12, and continuing for 3 weeks, each block was picked specifically at it’s peak. Givne that Lucia is a blend of all three vineyards – Pisoni, Gary’s, and Soberanes, that’s a tall order to ensure each block is picked at exactly the right time, to achieve power, balance, and flavor.
On the palate, bold black cherry and cola flavors are balanced with white pepper. Hints of raspberry and bright strawberry also blanket the glass. The finish rounds off with blackberry, and ripe plum with bitter skin. This is a strong wine, and while there is acid there due to the cooling influences, it is definitely a statement.
Those who love a big but balanced pinot will love this one. $45
So what is the lesson here? The lesson is when two talented winemakers team up and have world class fruit, you get stunning wines at affordable values. Seek out these California gems.
These wines were provided as trade samples to participate in a live tasting
