2018 Lucia Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir by The Pisoni Family | Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County California 750ml

The Pisoni Family has made their mark on California viticulture with over three generations of farming world-class sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The Lucia Wines are made alongside the wines of the Pisoni Estate with the same commitment to excellence. The Garys' Vineyard bottling is the single vineyard offering from a Pisoni Family site that is farmed in partnership with Gary Franscioni.

Located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands on sandy loam soil, the esteemed fifty-acre vineyard is planted mostly to Pinot Noir, with a small allotment of Syrah. Given its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog blankets the Garys' Vineyard throughout most of the summer months, providing the right conditions for a cool, slow-ripening season. Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast praises Garys' Vineyard for its "fabulous terroir," which yields "wines of impeccable balance and lushness".

True to form, the 2018 Lucia Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir yet again stands up to meet its lofty reputation as one of the most highly regarded sites for Pinot Noir in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Starting in the glass with an unyielding dark ruby hue from its rim to its core, this wine flaunts its youth with aromas of black cherry, ripe plum, and citrus blossom. Taking advantage of a near perfect growing season, the vines ripened their clusters slowly and consistently, setting the stage for a wine of notable purity, complexity, and structure. Dark berry and graphite notes weave together with bright, lively acidity and soft, supple tannin to form a final seamlessly integrated finish. A remarkable combination of meticulous winemaking in an ideal vintage, this Pinot Noir is wonderful at the moment, but will age gracefully for years. 850 cases produced. | Lucia

The 2018 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is a little more dense, focused, and tight, with beautiful black cherry and currant fruits as well as notes of camphor, new leather, violets, and earthy notes. I love its balance. Medium to full-bodied, it has nicely integrated acidity, subtle oak, and a great finish. It's going to keep for 7-8 years, easily. Along with the 2016, it's the finest vintage of this release I've tasted! | 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com