The Pisoni family has been farming Monterey County soil since the turn of the 19th century when our ancestors immigrated to California. In 1951, Eddie and Jane Pisoni founded Pisoni Farms, a commercial produce operation in the Salinas Valley. They purchased land in 1979 high above the valley floor to graze cattle. At the time, this seemed all it was suited for. But their son Gary had other ambitions for the highland property. He wanted to make wine.
His parents said he was nuts for wanting to plant grapes and that people go broke looking for water. This all may have been partly true. In 1982, with no water source, Gary planted his first five-acre vineyard block on an east-facing slope at 1,300 feet. After eight years of searching, he finally discovered groundwater beneath hundreds of feet of granite and continued planting vines.
The Estate Cuvee Chardonnay is grown exclusively from the Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards.
This wine’s impressive richness is first detected through notes of honeysuckle, peach blossom, and crème brulée on the nose. As you begin to taste the wine, the single vineyards begin to show. The Soberanes Vineyard component shines with mineral-driven notes of crushed rock and citrus flavors of lemon peel, while the Pisoni Vineyard makes its mark with a phenolic texture and concentrated notes of Bosc pear and white peach. This balanced Chardonnay finishes with crisp acidity, hints of toasty brioche, and undeniable texture from 10 months of aging in 35% new French oak.
Highlight this wine with roasted herb chicken, pork chops, buttery creamy seafood dishes, and even veal.