2021 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Tasting Notes
“Very deep red color. Complex aroma profile of orange, red cherry, cola, anise, and vanilla bean. With some air, subtle notes of roasted strawberry pie, jasmine, and lemon-zest. Once on the palate, flavors broaden towards citrus and red fruit. With plush tannins and bright acidity, the texture offers a beautiful abundance of concentration. While this youthful Pinot Noir shows restraint, it boasts immense potential for the future. Enjoy now through 2032.”
~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
January 2023
“Elegant layers of rose oil, strawberry schmear and dusty mints are attractive on the nose of this bottling. The palate tightens up around fresh flavors of strawberry, pomegranate and light herb.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
May 2023 Issue
Production Data
Growers: Pisoni & Franscioni Families
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 400 feet; East/Northeast
Soil: Rocky, sandy loam
Vineyard Age: 13 years
Viticulture Practice: Sustainable (SIP Certified)
Vinification: Destemmed, fermented in stainless steel
Cooperage & Ageing: 14 months in 100% French Oak, 57% new
Production: 14 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir (100% Pisoni Clone)
Acidity: 3.33 pH, 6.73 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: September 30, 2021, hand harvested
Club Release: January 2023
Release Price: $76
Drink Now through 2032
Past Vintage Wine Scores
“Earthy aromas of crushed slate and black tea leaves pair well with the dark-berry character on the nose of this bottling. The palate is structured architecturally, with ample density and tannins that are firm but relenting enough to present the mulberry, black plum, mushroom, coffee and loamy earth flavors. Drink now through 2034.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
February/March 2022 Issue
“Warm, earthy nose, silky with bright, tangy cherry fruit; ripe with just a hint of mature sweetness, crisp and long.”
Anthony Dias Blue
September 2020
“Deep crimson. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, potpourri and Asian spices, with smoky mineral and blood orange topnotes. Silky, penetrating raspberry, cherry cola and rose pastille flavors show very good depth and sharp focus, and tangy acidity adds a firm spine. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy on the strikingly long, floral-driven finish, which leaves hints of vanilla and star anise behind.”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni Vinous
November 2019
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“Smooth, juicy and tangy with bright red cherry and lively acidity.”
Anthony Dias Blue
The SOMM Journal
July 2019
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“A touch low in intensity upon first nosing with scattered suggestions of dried flowers and a distant herbal note or two sitting atop its relatively subdued, cherryish fruit, this wine quickly surprises by being richer and far deeper in flavor, and delivers a healthy, altogether unexpected measure of nicely ripened, indelibly varietal, red cherry fruit framed by attractive, mildly creamy oak. It is both agile and slightly supple in feel, and it offers a great deal to like now, but it is balanced to keep and we feel safe in predicting a little more complexity and finishing polish after a short wait.”
Connoisseurs’ Guide
November 2019
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“Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of raspberry liqueur, spicecake and incense, backed by a hint of smoky minerals. Densely packed and alluringly sweet, displaying silky texture and a vibrant mineral core to the sappy red berry preserve, cherry cola and rose pastille flavors. Gains power with air while maintaining vibrancy. Gentle tannins build slowly on an impressively persistent, floral-driven finish.”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni Vinous
“From the vineyard planted by the Pisoni and Franscioni families, this wine delivers bright raspberry and strawberry aromas with sweet star anise spice. The medium-bodied palate is lively and boisterous, with ripe cranberry, tangy red plum skin and sour cherry flavors, accented with a helping of dried herbs.”
Wine Enthusiast
“Stark minerality, from hot gravel to chipped slate, meets with garrigue elements of lavender and thyme on the nose of this strong bottling that gains a savory quality thanks to roasted-pork aromas. The requisite fruit arrives on the sip, where smashed cranberry meets with pepper spice and dried herbs. The structure is grippy and affords great length in the finish.”
Wine Enthusiast
“This wine’s distinct and intriguing nose pairs cola and cinnamon with cranberry, chopped chaparral scrub and wildfire smoke. That scrubby character of green sage and mugwort extends to the palate, spicing up the beet juice, ripe raspberries and a pencil-lead backbone.This wine’s distinct and intriguing nose pairs cola and cinnamon with cranberry, chopped chaparral scrub and wildfire smoke. That scrubby character of green sage and mugwort extends to the palate, spicing up the beet juice, ripe raspberries and a pencil-lead backbone.”
Wine Enthusiast
“Medium-deep ruby color; rich, deep, dark cherry aromas with herbs and anise notes; deep, rich cherry flavors with toasty oak and herbal notes; lush texture; good structure and balance; long finish. Lush, rich Pinot with flavors that go on forever.”
Pinot Report
“Here’s one of Testarossa’s more forward Pinots from the 2011 vintage, but that appeal is deceptive. It’s rich and ripe in raspberry, strawberry and cola flavors, with an apparent sweetness that belies the dry finish. The acidity is adequate, giving it a tart softness. Yet the parts have not come together. Give it until 2017 and see what happens.”
Wine Enthusiast
The Soberanes Vineyard
The Soberanes Vineyard is the fifth and newest vineyard in the Pisoni and Franscioni family partnership. It is located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands and builds upon a tradition of high quality hand-winegrowing. Gary Pisoni says the Soberanes Vineyard is their best property to date and they are expecting great vintages from it in the future because they have been able to apply all of their experience in this new location. There are 27 acres of the Pisoni clone Pinot Noir planted and 8 acres of Chardonnay. The property is adjacent to Garys’ Vineyard with an east/northeast orientation at 400 feet in elevation. The soil is rocky, sandy loam. The vineyard was originally planted in 2008.