Lucia by Pisoni "Soberanes Vineyard" Syrah 2021
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California) - [VM 96] [TWI 95] [JD 94+] [WA 93]

Notes from the Winemaker:

Vintage:
The 2021 growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands was cool, calm, and collected – a trifecta of traits that is welcomed by any grape grower or winemaker. The winter months were dry overall, receiving only about seven inches of rainfall, and forcing vines to reach deep into the rocky soils beneath them. Seemingly a reminder to be careful what you wish for, the rain was welcomed but not easy to predict. Four of the seven inches came at the end of January, keeping the team on their toes to manage erosion and flooding in the mountain vineyards. Buds broke a week or so later than normal, near the end of March, likely due to the preceding cold winter temperatures. Spring fever and slow growth forced the team to exercise patience and diligence amongst the vines. The Summer followed with mild temperatures, and the vines continued to grow with shorter canopies due to low winter rainfall. It was decided early on to remove extra shoots to create a smaller vine to ensure fruit would fully ripen. Smaller canopies and cooperative weather in the Fall allowed for a gentle harvest, with little stress to rush until the last week of September when temperatures began to rise. Overall, yields were above average with cluster weights staying consistent throughout harvest. The resulting wines are a stunning reflection of a year of cooperation from & collaboration with mother nature, impeccable attention in the vineyards, and exceptional care in the cellar.

Vineyard:
The Soberanes Vineyard is the latest joint venture between the Pisoni and Franscioni families. Situated on the Santa Lucia Highlands Bench adjacent to the Garys’ Vineyard and recently named “one of the appellation’s most esteemed properties” by the Wine Enthusiast, the site features tightly spaced vines and is planted to 33 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The clonal material planted in the loamy, rocky soil is very diverse and features over a dozen of the most renowned heritage selections from California and Burgundy.

Winemaking:
The Pisoni Family is committed to raising and hand-crafting exceptional wines. The limited-production Lucia wines are created using classic, gentle and thoughtful winemaking techniques. Hand-picked and sorted grapes are fermented with native yeast and aged in carefully selected French oak barrels. Our state-of-the-art winemaking facility uses gravity flow as part of a custom design conceived to merge the estate vineyards and winery. This affords us complete control of the farming and winemaking process, ensuring consistently superior quality.

Tasting Notes:
Staking its claim as an immaculate representation of the new world, yet harkening back to its ancestral old-world roots, the 2021 Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Syrah is a harmonizing display of this variety. The explosive profile bursts from the bottle immediately upon removing the cork and amplifies as this deep purple wine splashes into a glass. The aromatic intricacies are woven around notes of macerated blueberries and blackberry compote paired with a perfume of anise, violets, and fresh herbs. Coating the palate, this Syrah manages an unmistakable concentration and an undeniable elegance. Berry cobbler, new leather, toasted vanilla bean, and olive tapenade flavors gain momentum as the wine takes each breath. Vibrant acid and firm tannin from 100% whole cluster fermentation proclaim this wine’s youth. Drink now if you must, but patience will reward those who can resist the temptation of early enjoyment.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Syrah Soberanes Vineyard is superb. Dark, layered and mysterious, the 2021 is captivating from the first taste. Succulent plum, blackberry, lavender, spice, menthol and espresso all meld together. Readers will find a rich, heady Syrah with a ton of fruit and plenty of structure. Wilder Syrah notes have not developed at this stage, and I am not sure they will. I expect this to remain a pretty forward, fruit-driven Syrah. (Drink between 2024-2036)" - Antonio Galloni (Sep 2023)

95 Points - The Wine Independent:
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Syrah Soberanes Vineyard slowly emerges from the glass with notes of juicy black cherries, fresh plums, and black raspberries giving way to notes of tar, aniseed, and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness to frame the intense black fruits, finishing long and peppery.

94+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"There are two world-class Syrahs from this label. Looking first at the 2021 Syrah Soberanes Vineyard, its saturated purple hue is followed by a masculine bouquet of ripe plums, blueberries, iron, leather, toasted walnuts, and liquid flowers. Concentrated, full-bodied, and structured on the palate, it has a seamless mouthfeel, plenty of mid-palate depth, and gripping, ripe, yet building tannins on the finish. It's a serious wine that deserves 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink incredibly well over the following decade. (Drink between 2025-2036)" (Sep 2023)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Syrah Soberanes Vineyard, matured in 40% new French oak for 15 months, has intense aromas of cassis, white pepper, graphite and mint chocolate with touches of green olive and cigar ash. The full-bodied palate has a concentrated core of crunchy black fruit, chalky tannins, bright acidity and a long, graphite-laced finish. It will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle. 140 cases were made." - Erin Brooks (Jan 2024)