2021 La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Rita Hills AVA
Tasting Notes
“Medium straw hue. Concentrated scents of passionfruit, guava, brioche, kiwi, coconut, and mango jump readily out of the glass. With some air, secondary notes of grapefruit, white peach, custard, and vanilla bean make for a pleasing experience. Once on the palate, these qualities unite around elements of tropical fruit, grapefruit, and custard. These attributes flow seamlessly over an unctuous, dense mouthfeel that offers many rolling layers. This Chardonnay finishes with persistence and a plush mouthfeel. Enjoy now through 2032.”
~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
March 2023
“Offers a toasty, fragrant aromatic thread of honeycomb and spices mixed with a core of intense lemon curd, fresh pineapple and apricot flavors. Shows a crisp lemony edge and mouthwatering acidity. Drink now. 504 cases made.”
MaryAnn Worobiec
Wine Spectator
May 2023
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 235 feet; Northwest
Soil: Bayshore silty, clay loam
Vineyard Age: 24 years
Viticulture Practice: Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW)
Vinification: Pressed Whole-cluster, fermented in French Oak
Cooperage & Ageing: 15 months in French Oak, 38% new
Production: 21 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay (57% Clone 15, 43% Wente Clone)
Acidity: 3.26 pH, 7.47 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Harvest: October 19, 2021, hand harvested
Club Release: April 2023
Release Price: $55
Drink Now through 2032
Past Vintage Wine Scores
“Light hints of mint, freshly cut lemon and tangerine and polished stones awash in glacial melt make for an utterly fresh nose on this bottling. The racy palate is laser-focused, jetting from stone and ash to white melon to lime pith, with a citrus balm finish.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
August/September 2022 Issue
“A delicate nose of apricot and white-fleshed stone fruit is splashed with lemon zest and a kiss of butter on the delicious entry to this bottling. It’s extremely tight on the palate, where sea salt and honeysuckle blossoms are extremely balanced, focused and pure.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
December 2021 Issue
“Lush, ripe and juicy with silky texture and deep, polished fruit; rich and tropical with balance, style and finesse; long and nicely structured.”
Anthony Dias Blue
April 2020
“Ripe and toasty with vanilla and bright acidity; long and rich, elegant and showing finesse, generous and refined.”
Anthony Dias Blue
April 2019
“Silky and juicy, elegant and fresh with tangy, racy style; fresh and balanced.”
Anthony Dias Blue
June 2018
“Vivid yellow-gold. Fresh pear, tangerine, iodine and toasted brioche aromas show excellent clarity and mineral lift. Lively, gently sweet and precise on the palate, offers concentrated white peach, orange pith, candied ginger and honeysuckle flavors that deepen with air. Juicy and nervy in style, delivering strong finishing thrust and strong, mineral-driven persistence. I really like the blend of power and elegance here. ”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni Vinous
November 2017
“Another outstanding wine from winemaker Bill Brosseau, the 2014 Chardonnay la Rinconada Vineyard is medium-bodied, elegant and classy, with beautiful notes of white fruits, flowers, apple peel and hints of cream corn. Aged roughly 11 months in 33% new French oak, drink it over the coming 4-5 years, although I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see it evolve for longer.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The fantastic nose pitches French toast together with Meyer lemon pith, crushed rock, struck match and a slight sour-cream element. This wine is immediately lively on the tongue, with lots of but not overdone acidity. Yeasty toast flavors are cut by lemon and poached pear on a racy and focused palate. “
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
“Editor’s Choice – The single-vineyard experts at Testarossa hit a homerun with this wine from a famed property. Aromas of 7-Up, recent rains and minerality kick off a refreshing experience, which is powered by a strong flavor combination of very ripe fruit (à la traditional California Chardonnay), barrel-related vanilla and brisk, lingering acidity (à la Old World).”
Steve Heimoff
Wine Enthusiast
The La Rinconada Vineyard
Planted in 1997, La Rinconada sits adjacent to the famed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, the cornerstone of the Santa Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County. The same soil and climate conditions that make Sanford & Benedict an ideal spot for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay exist in the neighboring La Rinconada Vineyard. The vineyard is made up of 11 acres of Pinot Noir and 9 acres of Chardonnay. Testarossa has been making both since 2012.