Lisa Perrotti-Brown has a decorated wine career spanning an international footprint. She is most known for being a Master of Wine and working as Editor in Chief for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. After 13 years at Robert Parker, she left to form the Wine Independent in 2021, which has a mission of providing unbiased reviews from a team of all star reviewers.

Lisa recently sat down with Testarossa Founder, Rob Jensen, and Testarossa Director of Winemaking, Bill Brosseau, to taste through current release Jensen Reserve Society (JRS) and Santa Lucia Highlands AVA wines.

96 points

2021 Diana’s Chardonnay
California AVA

“The 2021 Diana’s Chardonnay is 45% Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. After a little coaxing, the nose erupts with powerful notes of apricots, pineapple upside-down cake, and guava with nuances of candied ginger, beeswax, and cashews. The medium-bodied palate delivers impactful tropical and stone fruit layers with spicy accents and well-knit freshness, finishing long and creamy.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

95+ points

2021 Niclaire Pinot Noir
California AVA

“The 2021 Niclaire Pinot Noir is the tete de cuvee barrel selection and 77% comes from Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium ruby-purple in color, it charges out with bold notes of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves, and star anise leading to wafts of camphor, tilled soil, and violets. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful, energetic black berry layers, framed by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

95 points

2021 Lone Oak Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“The 2021 Lone Oak Vineyard Chardonnay zips out of the glass with notes of white peaches, grapefruit, and fresh ginger plus hints of Marcona almonds and baking bread. The medium-bodied palate delivers a racy backbone and great intensity with a satiny texture, finishing long with a citrusy lift. “This is the oldest Chardonnay vineyard for us, about 43-44 years old. We take the oldest Wente Clone vines.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

95 points

2021 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“The 2021 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard is gorgeous. Ripe red cherry fruit, spice, blood orange and cedar lend notable aromatic brightness. Winemaker Bill Brosseau crafted a Pinot that offers tons of nuance while keeping the natural power of this site in check. There’s a bit of new oak sweetness here, but otherwise, the Sierra Mar is quite fine. Here, too, the finish is wonderfully persistent.” Antonio Galloni

94 points

2021 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

The 2021 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay offers up notes of almond croissant, Bosc pears, and honeydew melon with hints of chalk dust and coriander seed. The medium-bodied palate has lovely tension, with savory layers and a chalkiness on the finish.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94 points

2021 Tondré Grapefield Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“The 2021 Tondre Grapefield Chardonnay waltzes out with alluring notes of spice cake, apple butter, and honey-drizzled peaches plus hints of nutmeg and honeycomb. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and refreshing, with a lively line and impressive length.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94 points

2021 Doctor’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

” Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Doctor’s Vineyard Pinot Noir flies out of the glass with notes of fresh cranberries, redcurrant, and Bing cherries giving way to nuances of menthol and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is lively and refreshing, with fine-grained tannins and a red berry lift to the finish.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94 points

2021 Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

” The 2021 Pinot Noir Fogstone Vineyard is one of the more ethereal, lifted wines in this range, although its understated depth does begin to emerge with aeration. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather, tobacco and mocha all meld nicely, framed by bright acids and silky tannins that wrap it all together. This soft, classy Pinot is a real charmer. ” Antonio Galloni

94 points

2021 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with a gorgeous perfume of red roses, kirsch, and fragrant soil followed by a core of redcurrant jelly and cedar. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with juicy red berry flavors with a light touch of oak and a soft texture, finishing with lovely freshness.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94 points

2022 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir comes bounding out with beautiful scents of black cherries and black raspberries leading to notes of candied violets, clove oil, and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate delivers perfumed black and red berry layers with a plush texture and bags of freshness, finishing with a spicy lift. ” Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94 points

2021 Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

“Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir bursts with bold notions of juicy plums, black cherries, and mulberries giving way to hints of Indian spices and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is lively and satiny, with bags of black berry and exotic spice flavors, finishing with a compelling lift.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown