NEWSLETTERS    NEW RELEASES

Spring 2008 New Releases

Chardonnay
2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard "Elder Series" Chardonnay, 228 cases- 93 pts Wine Enthusiast, 92pts Connoisseurs' Guide
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barabara County
1995 marked Testarossa’s first Single Vineyard Chardonnay bottling which was from the Bien Nacido Vineyard.  Every vintage since, rich Santa Barbara County fruit characteristics have married beautifully with undertones of minerality derived from the shaley loam “Elder Series” soils that underlie these old Block U & V vines.  Our 2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay is beautifully accented by hints of vanilla and toast from aging in 100% French oak barrels!
$39 per bottle ($31.20 per bottle for club members)


2006 Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay, 264 cases
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
The Rosella’s Vineyard, owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni, is quickly becoming a cult vineyard among Chardonnay and Pinot Noir enthusiasts. The 2006 vintage has all the depth and minerality of the beautiful 2005 vintage, but it gains added complexity due to an extra layer of rich fruit flavors.  As always, balance and silky fine texture are hallmarks of any wine made from Rosella’s Vineyard grapes.
$44 per bottle ($35.20 per bottle for club members)
Ask the Grower: An Interview with Gary Franscioni

Pinot Noir
2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard "Elder Series" Pinot Noir, 392 cases
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barabara County
It is hard to go wrong when sourcing Pinot Noir from one of the most famous Pinot Noir vineyards in the country.  The Miller family planted Pinot Noir in their cool, coastal Santa Maria Valley vineyard in the early 1970s, long before Pinot Noir became the “hip” varietal it is now. Our special block is on a slightly steeper hillside than the majority of the vineyard which gives this block even better drainage from the Elder Series soil, resulting in lower and more concentrated yields each year.  The rich red fruit flavors of this vintage are layered with spice, cinnamon and satin smooth tannins which make this Pinot one that you will find difficult to age because it is so absolutely delicious right now.
$56 per bottle ($44.80 per bottle for club members)

2006 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir, 339 cases –93 pts Wine Enthusiast, 91 pts Connoisseurs' Guide
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
The 2006 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir shows off the classic Santa Lucia Highlands gravely loam terroir, wrapped by layers of extra rich black cherries and spice.  Silky fine tannins make this wine wonderful to drink upon release. However, if you have some patience, you will be rewarded with extra layers of complexity in just two or three years of bottle aging.  As the Rosella’s Vineyard continues to mature, the wines are clearly gaining more and more complexity of which the 2006 vintage is a perfect example! 
$59 per bottle ($47.20 per bottle for club members)
Ask the Grower: An Interview with Gary Franscioni

Novitiate Wines

2007 Novitiate Pinot Noir Rosé, 350 cases
California – from Santa Barbara, Monterey & Sonoma County
A time honored technique for intensifying the concentration and flavors of Pinot Noir is called “sangier” which is French for “to bleed.”  Before the cold soak and subsequent fermentation begins in our Pinot Noirs, we will frequently remove (bleed) a barrel or two of pre-fermentation, slightly pink Pinot Noir grape juice from several fermentors.  This process increases the skin-to-juice ratio for our very popular Pinots. The bleed-off juice is then fermented separately in stainless steel, or older neutral oak barrels, resulting in a clean, refreshing, fun dry rosé.  2007 marks the fourth vintage we have bottled a rosé.  Try a bottle this spring or summer. 
$17 per bottle ($13.60 per bottle for club members)

2006 Novitiate Chardonnay, 296 cases
California – from Santa Barbara, Monterey & Sonoma County
$19 per bottle ($15.20 per bottle for club members)

2006 Novitiate Pinot Noir, 290 cases
California – from Santa Barbara, Monterey & Sonoma County
$21 per bottle ($16.80 per bottle for club members)

2006 Novitiate Syrah , 280 cases
California – from Santa Barbara, Monterey & Sonoma County, and the Santa Cruz Mountains
$19 per bottle ($15.20 per bottle for club members)

Order New Releases today!