98-Points by Jeb Dunnuck.
The 2018 Pinot Noir from this great estate is a beauty, and certainly comes close to topping out my scale. Coming all from the estate vineyard in the southern end of the appellation, it reveals a translucent ruby/purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, crushed flowers, spice, violets, and a kiss of wet granite-like minerality. This was a long, even growing season and you see it in the balance, purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and flawless integration of acidity and structure. While it’s supple and forward, my money is on it evolving beautifully for 10-15 years. Very limited!
 
Pisoni Estate is the eponymous Pinot Noir made by the Pisoni Family and sourced from their Pisoni Vineyard. The site was founded and first planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982. His sons have since taken over the family business with Mark as vineyard manager and Jeff the winemaker. To the Pisoni’s, viticulture and winemaking must be seen as a whole, rather than as separate parts. This is essential to producing the best wine possible. The goal of Pisoni Estate is to create a great wine that represents this vineyard, a commitment to the land, and the passion of their family.
The Pisoni family approaches winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, they work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and their own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land they love and respect.
Successful wine is the result of holistic thinking and a synergy of parts. Vineyard manager Mark and vintner Jeff, his brother, work in close collaboration to pass on their father Gary’s vision. Just as Mark approaches growing and harvesting in the vineyards block-by-block, Jeff vinifies in small lots, hand-sorting grapes, observing, tasting, and testing them as they undergo native yeast fermentation, and supervising punch-down by hand. Their wine is the product of their joint sustained and meticulous attention.