2016 Pisoni Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate

Lurid ruby-red. Heady oak-tinged cherry and Chambord aromas are complemented by vibrant floral Asian spice and smoky mineral nuances. Juicy and sharply delineated on the palate offering concentrated red berry liqueur and rose pastille flavors that deepen steadily with air. Fine-grained tannins lend gentle grip to the finish which hangs on with superb clarity and floral-tinged persistence.

The 2016 Pinot Noir is another sensational wine from this Grand Cru terroir in the Santa Lucia Highlands. From broken granite soils and aged in 65% new French oak, it’s an elegant, finesse-driven example of this cuvée which tends to lean more toward a pedal-to-the-metal style. Classic crème de cassis, sous bois, violets, and rock, earthy minerality flow to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, seamless Pinot Noir that, like the Chardonnay, is tight and reserved. Give it 2-3 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following decade. These two releases from the Pisoni family are, again, some of the top wines from California. The focus here is on the estate Pisoni Vineyard located at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands, which is a slightly warmer site (for the region) consisting of broken granite-soils, which is unique for California. These are rich, powerful wines yet that both have a terrific sense of energy and elegance.