2022 Lucy Wines by Pisoni, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands.
The Lucy Wines, which were made to give back to the community and inspired by the Monterey Bay area are made by the famous Pisoni family and are supposed to be fresh, elegant, approachable, meaningful, and fun wines, especially this brightly flavored Lucy Rosé, crafted from Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. The Lucy Rosé of Pinot Noir started this whole venture and still gives partial proceeds to breast cancer research, it has always been a quality and expressive pink wine, but this latest release from the 2022 vintage is one of the best I can remember, and I’ve had these in most years since it was first conceived, with an inviting vivid pink/magenta hue, squeezed raspberry, sour cherry, tangy ruby grapefruit, watermelon, distilled strawberry fruits, along with a touch of spice, wet stones, wild herbs, rosewater and steely mineral notes. This vintage of Lucy Rosé of Pinot Noir, which comes from selected vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands on sand and loamy soils and with the cool blast of pacific air, is going to please anyone that pulls the cork, this is a rewarding regionally inspired treat that I highly recommend, and it is for a good cause.
Most Rosés are usually produced, as winemaker Jeff Pisoni says, either through whole cluster pressing or by Saignée (a practice in which a proportion of the juice from pressed grapes is bled away in order to concentrate color and tannins). He creates his Lucy Rosé using both methods, a bit like Domaine Tempier does in their famous Bandol Rosé, with separate lots of early picked grapes and then some fully ripe ones when they are picking for the main Pinots. Jeff continues, that he begins by sending the fruit directly to the press to be squeezed and take great care to retain only the most delicate and aromatic juice. Next, he drains off a small amount of juice from tanks of whole grape clusters, which he explains, gives the wine slightly more texture. Combining both practices allows the Pisoni’s to create this lovely and stylish version that stands out in a crowd. Finally, the Pisoni’s mature the Lucy Rosé in neutral barrels that lend more texture and roundness to the finished wine, but without much if any wood flavor, trying to transmit as much purity and energy as possible here. After three months in oak, The Lucy Rosé is bottled quickly to preserve freshness and in clear glass that, they say, sets off the wine’s vibrant color. Enjoy this one now and way into the Indian Summer and Fall season, it even will go great with Thanksgiving, if you were to have any patience!
($24 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive