1 Wine Dude

A Serious Wine Blog For the Not-So-Serious Drinker

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here!
    • PR & Samples
    • Press & What-Have-You
  • Wine
    • by badge
      • crowd pleaser
      • elegant
      • kick-ass
      • overachiever
      • sexy
    • Full Reviews
    • Mini-Reviews
  • Stalk
    • Follow me on News Break!
    • facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • pinterest
    • twitter
    • YouTube
  • Sign Up
  • Books
  • Services
  • Contact
Menu
1 Wine Dude
2020 Zoom 1

Wine in the Time of Coronavirus, Part II (Alma de Cattleya & Lucia Recent Releases)4 min read

Posted on April 30, 2020April 27, 2020 by 1WineDude

in crowd pleaser wines, kick-ass wines, sexy wines, Uncategorized, wine review

2020 Zoom 1

Gotta love the modern wine biz. Despite our penchant for socialization being tampered down by the (entirely reasonable) shelter-in-place orders (courtesy of our current global pandemic), we always manage to find a way to not have to always drink alone!

Last week, I was part of a cast of online wine peep characters taking part in a live tasting of new releases from Alma de Cattleya and Lucia wines, who happen to be made by Bibiana González Rave and Jeff Pisoni, respectively, who also happened to join us for the virtual tasting, and who also happen to be married to one another in a modern embodiment of a winemaking power couple scenario. As González Rave told us regarding their relationship, “We both are a little bit perfectionist, so we always have criticisms during the process, especially when we blend. I love to share my blend trials with Jeff, always blind, to hear his opinion. We are lucky to have each other for sure.”

Of said power couple, González Rave’s backstory is the more compelling, which is not an attempt to throw any shade at Pisoni, because her backstory is the more compelling when compared to almost anyone else’s in California wine at the moment. I’ll let her tell it as she tweeted it to us:

“I was born and raised in Medellin [Columbia]. Really during the worse times of Drug cartels and Guerrillas…. But I was so fortunate to still be able to dream and have quite a normal life. Since I was 14 years old I started to say that I wanted to make wine. I was fascinated by wine, the meaning of it, the history that comes with [it]. I just remember so much that year, and telling my teachers and parents about my dream. I obviously didn’t know anything about wine, neither that wine comes from farming, and that farming will frame my life.”

See? Told ya…

#AlmaLuciaWine lineup

crowd pleaser2019 Cattleya ‘Alma de Cattleya’ Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sonoma County, $20)

This crowd-pleasing pink is built from the ground up to become a rosé; as González Rave told us: “For this wine, I really look for vineyards that allow for early picking. Mainly areas where the producers are used to farm for sparkling wines.” That, along with whole cluster pressing, helps explain why a wine this big and ripe (by rosé standards) also feels so fruity and balanced. Roses, strawberries, citrus pith, and savory cherries – everything you want, really – along with ample vivacity to add just enough crispness.

 

crowd pleaser2019 Cattleya ‘Alma de Cattleya’ Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County, $22)

While decidedly CA in style, balance is also the name of the game with this white. “The secret is on how we treat the fruit at the winery,” González Rave explaiened. “Our processes are focus on high-end winemaking, so we apply the same care to the fruit harvested for Alma. I spend quite a bit of my time at the vineyards, helping throughout the year to improve farming practices. Early pick but not really based on numbers, more on aromatics.” And aromatic, it is – think grapefruit, lemon zest, grass, and white flowers. Despite the ripeness and creaminess (thanks to lees aging in neutral French oak), there’s a fine line of acidity to act as a guide-rail for when this white dances down your tongue.

 

sexy2018 Pisoni Family Vineyards ‘Lucia’ Chardnnay (Santa Lucia Highlands, $45)

Hubby Jeff Pisoni is no winemaking slouch, either, crafting releases across a range of labels (of which Lucia, made from vineyards farmed by the Pisoni family, is one) at his family’s business. Pisoni seemed to have high hopes for this creamy, toasty, and even nutty Chard: “We keep the winemaking very reductive, minimal oxygen. I see our chardonnays going 10 years or more. But I’m a bit of a collector!” A barrel selection of wine sourced from the Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards, this is compelling stuff: pear, lemon curd, apples, blossoms, minerals, and a great interplay between freshness/brightness and almost decadent, juicy fruitiness.

 

kick ass2018 Pisoni Family Vineyards ‘Lucia’ Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands, $45)

Back to Pisoni: “I always feel this is under the radar, since it’s appellation designated, but all estate fruit, and 100% free run, too (no press wine).” Whatever it is, it’s juicy AF: plums, black cherries, red berry fruits to spare, along with ample spiciness, herbal sage and black tea notes, hints of mint and cedar… there’s a lot going down here, folks. It has edginess, too, in bursts of energetic acidity. I loved it. Pisoni seemed almost as on edge as the wine when he told us “I felt the 2018s were very tight at first, maybe 6 to 10 years for this one.” He’s got nothing to fear, though; yeah, it will age well, but it’s delicious drinking even now.

Cheers!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

By leaving a comment here, you accept that you totally rock, and possess excessive amounts of intelligence and good looks. You also agree not to act like a douchebag. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dude’s New Books

Wine Taster's Guide Now Available!

“Bravo! Wine Taster's Guide is a perfect primer for both wine novices and learning enthusiasts." ―Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier

Wine Taster's Journal Now Available!

"Wine Taster's Journal belongs in everyone's cellar… preferably wine-stained, dog-eared, and well-used.” ―Brian Freedman, wine/spirits/travel columnist

Get Some Wine

Popular Stuff

  • Wine in the Time of Coronovirus, Part 21: Touchable (Tasting Untouched By Light)
    Wine in the Time of Coronovirus, Part 21: Touchable (Tasting Untouched By Light)
  • Carignan, My Wayward Son (Chile's Carignan Renaissance for NVWA)
    Carignan, My Wayward Son (Chile's Carignan Renaissance for NVWA)
  • Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For January 11, 2021
    Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For January 11, 2021
  • Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For December 21, 2020
    Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For December 21, 2020
  • A Quiet Resistance (Eyrie Vineyards Original Vines Pinot Noir, In Retrospect)
    A Quiet Resistance (Eyrie Vineyards Original Vines Pinot Noir, In Retrospect)

About + Contact

Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Certified Specialist of Wine & WSET Advanced
Author, speaker, consultant, wine judge, & critic.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS Feed

Find Stuff

Sign up, lushes!

Join 36,566 other subscribers

Fine Print

This site is licensed under Creative Commons.

Code of Ethics and Privacy Policies.

Play nice!

Get The Guide

Wine Tasters Guide Footer
#1 New Release in Amazon's Wine Tasting category
This site uses cookies. Duh. Cookie Policy
©2021 1 Wine Dude
Yo yo YO!

Wine Tasters Guide InstagramWell, hello there!

If you like what you’re reading (and want to like more of what you’re drinking), consider subscribing.

If you’re up for a more immersive wine learning experience, check out my books and other services.

Cheers!

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.