2022 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
The Santa Lucia Highlands are known as one of the premier Pinot Noir appellations of the world. One reason for this lofty reputation is Rosella’s Vineyard, one of the finest Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards in California. Gary Franscioni planted his home ranch, named for his lovely wife, in the heart of the Highlands. His home vineyard is planted with a selection of the best available Pinot Noir clones and farmed with unparalleled passion and attention to detail. We at Bernardus are fortunate to have access to three small blocks: 2 planted with Dijon clone 777, and a third with the celebrated Pisoni clone.
Our 2022 Rosella’s Pinot displays beautiful aromas of ripe plums and boysenberry. The palate is very rich and full-bodied, with ripe black cherry flavors accented by subtle baking spices ending with soft tannins and a long, silky finish.
Picking dates: September 22nd and October 1st, 2022.
Appellation: Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. 100% Pinot Noir.
Fermentation: Each block is individually monitored for ripeness in order to hand pick each clone at its perfect ripeness level. The grapes are sorted at the winery and fermented in small individual fermenters using specially selected yeasts. Once fermentation and pressing are complete, each lot is aged separately for 10 months in the finest French oak barrels.
Cooperage: 100% French; about 33% new. Sirugue and Billon.
Bottling:
August 15th, 2023.
894 – 6/packs (750 mls.)
2022 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir
Sierra Mar is a superb vineyard planted by the renowned grower Gary Franscioni on a dramatic hilltop location at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few to receive both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this SLH super star.
At Bernardus, we use only hand-picked and hand-sorted grapes for our Pinot Noirs. All our Pinots are destemmed and fermented with whole berries so that the fruit flavors can shine without herbal notes from stems and leaves. Each vat is inoculated with a specially selected yeast and hand punched or pumped over twice daily throughout fermentation. After a gentle pressing, the wine is pumped to french oak barrels and aged for 10 months before the final blend is made for bottling.
Our 2022 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir exhibits seductive scents of ripe red cherries and raspberries accented with hints of spice. The palate shows bright fruit flavors of cranberry, plum and baking spice notes on a long flavorful finish.
Picking dates: October 4th and 8th, 2022.
Appellation: Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. 100% Pisoni clone Pinot Noir.
Cooperage: 100% French: Sirugue and Billon, about 35% new.
Bottling:
August 15th, 2023.
871 - 6/packs (750 mls.)
2022 Soberanes Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands’ two most renowned growers, Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, have joined forces on an exciting vineyard located next to the celebrated Garys’ Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is called Soberanes Vineyard. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few wineries to receive both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this fabulous vineyard!
We have chosen two Pinot clones: the celebrated Pisoni clone and Dijon clone 667.
All our grapes are hand-picked and sorted at the winery. Our Pinots are destemmed and gently pumped to small fermenters retaining as many whole berries as possible. Each vat is hand-punched or pumped over twice daily until fermentation is complete. They are then gently pressed, and the wine is aged in barrel for 10 months before bottling.
Our 2022 Soberanes Pinot exhibits aromas of ripe blackberry and cola. Typical of this special vineyard, the palate is full and intense with flavors of ripe, dark red fruits. The finish is long, rich and silky.
Picking date: September 27th & October 4th, 2022.
Appellation: Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands; 100% Pinot Noir.
Cooperage: 100% French: Sirugue and Billon; about 33% new.
Bottling:
August 16th, 2023.
888 - 6/packs (750 mls.)