VINEYARD Pisoni
CLONES Pisoni
ORIENTATION North/South
TRELLISING Uni-lateral cordon
SOIL Glacial alluvial
FERMENTATION 1-ton open top / 5-ton concrete tank / 3 day cold soak / 10-14 day ferment
OAK 29% new French oak / 16 months
ALCOHOL 14.5%
pH 3.65
TA 6.0 g/L
AROMA
Notes of dried herbs, sage, plum and berry with a hint of iron.
PALATE
Full body, energetic and lifted with power. Minerality mixed with umami create a lovely finish. Beautifully austere yet fruity.
Perched at an altitude of 1,300 feet, Pisoni Vineyard overlooks the fertile Salinas Valley to the east. People told the visionary Gary Pisoni that grapes would never grow in this location. Determined to prove them all wrong, Gary forged ahead and has demonstrated exactly how great Pinot Noir can be from this site. The valley opens out to Monterey Bay, allowing cold fog to roll in from the Pacific Ocean, blanketing the valley on a daily basis. This fog and the prevailing ocean winds make this mountain estate one of the coolest growing regions in the state.
The 45 planted acres at Pisoni Vineyards are divided into small blocks that follow the contours of the mountains. The lean, decomposed-granite soils are very well drained, stressing the vines and forcing their roots deep into the earth in search of water and nutrients. More than 85% of the land remains in its natural state of native grasses, Coastal Live Oaks and prolific wildlife.
Fact of Note: Elevation was 1,300 ft.
THE SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS IS recognized for producing some of California’s most powerful yet intricate and impeccably balanced Pinot Noirs. Perched upon the East-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the vines are consistently cooled by wind and fog drawn from the depths of Monterey Bay.
Within this region is the city of Salinas, an agricultural town surrounded by fruit and vegetable growers with a comprehensive climate blended of coastal breezes and sun that is ideal for grape-growing. There are plenty of favorite local hangouts to discover if you make the stop. The BBQ is truly magical and worthy of a detour in and of itself.
