2016 Diana’s Chardonnay

“With a wonderfully gregarious, multilayered nose of guava, pineapple, ripe peaches and pink grapefruit plus supporting notions of spice box, candied ginger and toasted nuts, the medium-bodied 2015 Chardonnay Diana’s is tightly wound in the mouth, offering glimpses at the many tropical and savory layers, finishing long and vibrant.”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
September 29, 2017

“The winery’s best-barrel bottling of Chardonnay, this excels on all fronts, showing lemon peels, browned butter, creamy lily and pan-seared apples on the light, crisp yet savory nose. The mouthfeel is rich but decorated with zesty line of salty acidity that cuts through the lemon-curd flavors. Altogether mouthwatering, it’s perfect for a seaside meal.”

Wine Enthusiast
~Matt Kettman
November 1, 2016
Full review

“An 8-12 barrel selection, the 2013 Chardonnay Diana’s Reserve is up with the crème de la crème from the vintage. Possessing similar aromatics to the Fogstone Vineyard release, with beautiful lemon rind, citrus blossom, honeysuckle and hints of toasted bread, it’s medium-bodied, firm and crisp on the palate, with fabulous purity and precision. This is pure class, and I suspect will drink nicely for at least another 7-8 years.”

Jeb Dunnuck

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Do not be misled by its simple “California” designation here. This best-barrel selection is one of the leading stars of team. It is rich and wonderfully layered and it seamlessly marries its creamy oak and very deep, keenly defined fruit and is replete with complex touches of minerals, freshly baked bread and notes of pie-crust sweetness. It is full-bodied and yet always light on its feet with a striking sense of vitality, balance and length, and, like the best of its breed, it is a Chardonnay that will continue to evolve and become more impressive with age. ”

Charles Olken & Steve Elliot

Connoisseur’s Guide
May 2014

“This is a reserve-style bottling based on barrel selections of the winery’s extensive portfolio. It’s extravagant in tangerine, mango, peach and oak flavors, with leesy notes of yeast, new oak and buttered toast. With brisk acidity, it’s a rich wine that should be enjoyed now.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“Layers of fruit wrap around the palate with gorgeous richness and density in the 2010 Chardonnay Diana’s, a selection of the best barrels of Chardonnay in the cellar. Clean underlying mineral notes and sweet, perfumed aromatics round out the Diana’s in all directions.”

Antonio Galloni
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Diana’s is Testarossa’s best barrel blend from its various vineyards from around the coast, hence the California appellation. It’s certainly ultrarich, almost decadent, with the apricot, pear and honey sweetness of a late-harvest dessert wine. Yet its thoroughly dry, and finishes with clean, minerally acidity. Deserves its reserve-level price.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“A best-of-barrels selection from the winery’s various vineyards, this is a lush, intricate Chardonnay made in the modern style. It’s fantastically rich in pineapple tart flavors, with the sweet, smoky crust, and more acidic citrus notes of Meyer lemons and limes. Oak aging and lees add fortunate layers of buttered toast and cream. Very intricate, with Chablisian dryness and minerality. Now–2014.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“This is a blend of Testarossa’s far-flung vineyards across California, hence the statewide appellation. It’s extraordinarily rich and explosive in apricots, pineapples, guavas, nectarines, buttered toast and smoky, caramelized oak. So muscular that you might want to age it for a year or two, to let it calm down.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“Rich and ripe in the Testarossa style, and delightfully outgoing, this full-bodied effort is loaded with bright apple and citrus fruit aromas and while it has been steeped in very fancy oak barrels, it does not sell itself to that oak and instead comes across as full of balanced, attractive personality. It also carries a lighter, almost candied edge that is not so evident in most of the winery’s other offerings reviewed here.”

Charles Olken & Steve Elliot

Connoisseur’s Guide
February 2008

“A statewide blend of the winemakers’ favorite barrels from their multiple vineyard sites, the Diana’s Reserve is easily Testarossa’s best ’05 Chardonnay. Blending seems to have ironed out the difficult spots, and made for a complete wine. Rich in fruit and oak, it shows all the hallmarks of great coastal California Chard.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“Shows the richness and complexity of all Testarossa’s Chardonnays, with masses of tropical fruit and oak flavors balanced by zesty acidity. But this wine, with a statewide appellation, has a mouthwatering minerality, a zesty tang of steel, that gives the wine extra layers. What a delicious, exciting Chardonnay.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast

“Super-rich, oaky and ripe in the Testarossa style, this flamboyant wine bursts with tropical fruit, spice, buttered toast and vanilla aromas and flavors. The texture is creamy, and the acidity high in this crowd pleaser.”

Steve Heimoff

Wine Enthusiast