Pisoni 2023 Pinot Noir “Estate” Santa Lucia Highlands 97 Points – MAGNUM

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: ‘Brilliant and worthy of comparison to top Pinot Noirs and Burgundies, the 2023 Pinot Noir offers a gorgeous array of red and black fruits intermixed with forest floor, dried flowers, baking spices, and leather. This medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir reveals a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Made with 30% whole clusters and fermented in oak tanks before 11 months in 65% new French oak, it shows the softer, supple, incredibly charming style of the vintage and will drink beautifully over the coming 10-12 years.”

Vinous 96 Points: “The 2023 Pinot Noir is a blend from the four different ridges on the vineyard, aged for 11 months in 65% new French oak. Blue fruit and chaparral herbs sizzle out of the glass, melding into a deep inner core of slate, crushed rocks and chalk. The refined, polished quality of the tannins and the harmony of the refreshing, cool-toned acidity are both particularly excellent in 2023. This is not a flashy vintage of the estate Pinot—it’s a powerhouse with a soft-speaking voice, a wine built for the cellar that’s already showing very well today. Resonant and harmonious, the 2023 is a dynamic, dimensional, utterly classy
wine.”

Jeff Pisoni notes: “The 2023 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir is a wine born from a cold vintage on the mountainside that is Pisoni Vineyards. The 2023 vintage was the coldest and latest growing season since the 1999 vintage. The slow progression of this season took patience, but brought an elegant beauty to the profile, while still maintaining a characteristic concentration. Fresh rose petal, black cherry, and succulent plum leap from the glass, while soft tones of baking spice and sage follow.  Colder years generally require more work in the vineyard to ensure ripeness. This was rewarded with low yields that slowly ripened and brought fine-grained tannins, a rich profile, and bright acidity. Pisoni Vineyards has often been cited as a place that delivers power and finesse. This vintage speaks to that ideal. This 2023 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir has the structure to age and develop gracefully for many years to come.