Brosseau Vineyard
Ask the Grower: An Interview with Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Chalone (Monterey County)
Owner: Jon & Jan Brosseau
Acreage (for Testarossa):
- Chardonnay, 6 acres, planted in 1980
- Pinot Noir, 3 acres, planted in 1999
Clones: Pinot Noir - Chalone & Pommard 4, Chardonnay - Chalone & Dijion 76
Soil Composition: Heavy limestone soils with lesser influence of decomposed granite
Elevation: 1600-1700 ft
Exposure: South, east and west facing slopes
Climate: Marine influences afternoon breezes. Summer daytime highs from 75 to 90 degrees with pre-dawn lows in the 50s.
First Testarossa vintage:
2002 - Chardonnay; 2002 - Pinot Noir
Heavy limestone and decomposed granite soils give the grapes from the Brosseau Vineyard a distinctive old world style, yet still produces rich, forward new world fruit flavors. Jon and Jan Brosseau planted their naturally low yielding vineyard in the shadow of Monterey County's Pinnacles National Monument in 1980. These quarter century old vines, farmed by Testarossa winemaker, Bill Brosseau, produce grapes of uncommon intensity and concentration.