Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay 2015

“(45% new French oak): Pale yellow-gold. Heady, incisive aromas of ripe pear, nectarine and saffron, with ginger, vanilla and oak spice nuances that build as the wine opens up. Rich yet surprisingly energetic and focused, offering intense, mineral-laced orchard and pit fruit flavors that are given spine and lifted by a vein of juicy acidity. The floral and vanilla notes repeat strongly on an extremely long, seamless finish that shows superb clarity and power. Drinking window: 2021-2028. 94 points

The Pisoni family needs no introduction to followers of California wines. Recent vintages of their estate-bottled lineup of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, not to mention Syrahs, continues to move steadily from strength to strength. The wines here are made by Jeff Pisoni, from fruit tended by Mark Pisoni and their father Gary Pisoni. I’d comfortably place their wines in the upper tier of United States wineries and while they are by no means cheap, in the grand scheme of the market they are pretty amazing values in the context of world-class producers. No expense has been spared in the winemaking process. The family now works with an enviable collection of fancy presses, French oak upright fermenters, barrels and foudres from Europe’s best coopers. The grapes grown by the Pisonis are legendary so it goes without saying that these wines are sourced from some of the most carefully and skillfully watched vineyards, anywhere. If you don’t believe it, book a visit and go see for yourself. The 2015s here are going to be scarce as half of the normal amount of fruit was harvested. Still, they’re more than well worth searching for.”

Josh Raynolds, Vinous (11/17)