Santa Lucia Highlands
Lucia Highland Vineyard is located in the northern region of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County and just a stone's throw across the street from our winery. Its proximity to the cool maritime influences of the Monterey Bay allows the fruit to ripen slowly, producing world-class Pinot Noir with intense, up-front berry fruit flavors, seductive texture, and silky tannins. The vineyard is trellised to a Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) system that allows maximum sun exposure to the berries during ripening.
After another dry winter, a mid-spring heat spell caused an early bloom. Cool weather, with some occasional frost, resulted in shatter and uneven fruit set. As a result, cluster and berry size was small and yields were low in most varieties. Warmth didn't return to the Santa Lucia Highlands mountain range until late September with harvest commencing in October.
The Lucia Highlands Vineyard is comprised of several Dijon clones as well as other proprietary clones that are now co-fermented and barreled separately. The grapes were only lightly crushed into small fermentors, in which nearly 40% of the berries were left whole. A Burgundian yeast culture, known for bold flavors and aromas, as well as native yeast was used for fermentation. Allowed to barrel age "sur lees" and occasionally stirred for eleven months, this wine possesses stylish complexity.
Our fifth release of the Lucia Highlands Vineyard Pinot Noir has again exceeded our expectations. This wine is deeply colored, rich and elegant, offering concentrated layers of cherry, current, and violets and a hint of caramel from oak aging. Stylistically classic, it wine pairs well with Mediterranean cuisine, especially grilled vegetables, seafood, veal, and pork.
Steve Pessagno, Winemaker
$28 / 10% Case Discount
