Winemaker Notes
When winemaker Jeff Pisoni looks at the label, a year's worth of vintage memories swirl in his head. Grapes handpicked under the cool cloak of night. Finicky Pinot Noir fruit hand-sorted and gently placed into fermentation vats, where cold soaks extract intense flavors and stabilize the rich garnet color of the grapes. Hand punchdowns of the cap provide tannins and a feel for the fermentation's progress. And, finally, wine sleeping in the finest French oak barrels, closely monitored until bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Fusing classic French techniques with innovative New World ideas, Jeff tries to make the best wine from nature's bounty every year. His winemaking artistry ensures the typicity of Pisoni Vineyards—and 365 days of his heart and mind—can be tasted in every bottle.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An absolutely stunning fireworks display of aromatics emerges when the nose gets close to the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Foresty notes, spring flowers, black raspberry, black currants, sweet cherry, and sassafras all jump from the glass. Extremely layered, velvety-textured, and opulent, with a finish that goes on for 50 seconds, this full-bodied wine has extraordinary concentration, purity, and “gravitas.” It is a sensational wine that should drink well for up to a decade. Bravo!
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
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.