Project Description
2018 La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Rita Hills AVA
Tasting Notes
“Straw hue color. Wonderful scents of fig, passionfruit, honey, brioche paired with notes of ripe apple pie, banana, and papaya make for an inviting Chardonnay aroma. Upon taste, these qualities persist and intensify with creaminess. While there is generous concentration of aromas and flavors, these attributes are restrained by brisk acidity. This wine finishes with some tension, showing its youth, but its complex qualities guarantee a long-lived experience. Enjoy now through 2028.”
~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
2018 Vintage Review
“Soft toasty nose; silky texture, fresh and tangy, smooth, bright and long; crisp and fruit-driven.”
Anthony Dias Blue
The SOMM Journal
March 2020
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 11 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 42% new
Production: 19 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.06 g/L – 3.42 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: October 17, 2018
Club Release: January 2020
Drink Now through 2028
Past Vintage Wine Scores
“Ripe and toasty with vanilla and bright acidity; long and rich, elegant and showing finesse, generous and refined.”
Anthony Dias Blue
SOMM Journal
April 2019
“Silky and juicy, elegant and fresh with tangy, racy style; fresh and balanced.”
Anthony Dias Blue
SOMM Journal
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
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. “
Wine Enthusiast
Matt Kettmann
“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).”
Wine enthusiast
Steve Heimoff
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.
Past Vintages
Wine Production Data
Tasting Notes
“Bright straw hue. Scents of mango, coconut, pineapple, and ripe apricot start the enjoyment. After some time in the glass, there arise notes of kiwi, cantaloupe, and peach. As this wine hits the palate, tropical and caramel flavors segue to modest acidity smooth tannins. With an unctuous quality balanced by delicate textures, this youthful wine finishes with richness and persistence. Enjoy now through 2025.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 13 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 42% new
Production: 16 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 5.51 g/L – 3.44 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: September 28, 2017
Club Release: January 2019
Drink Now through 2025
Tasting Notes
“Bright straw hue. Brilliant scents of mango, passionfruit, grapefruit, banana, vanilla bean, and white peach. These abundant characters sail seamlessly through the palate. The mouthfeel is so unctuous, dense, and lively, it is difficult to have just one glass. The finish of this beautiful Chardonnay is full, supple, hedonistic, and full of pleasure. Enjoy now through 2026.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 13 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 35% new
Production: 24 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.39 g/L – 3.41 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: September 27, 2016
Club Release: January 24, 2018
Consume Now through 2026
Tasting Notes
“Medium yellow hue. Focused scents of apple pie, mango, pineapple, and apricot which are then met with hints of brioche, crème brulee, and kiwi. These characters flow seamlessly into the palate and are paired with a vast, unctuous texture and vibrant acidity. This wine finishes very rich in concentration with some good length, lending itself to extended aging potential. Enjoy now through 2026.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 11 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 23% new
Production: 13 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.39 g/L – 3.35 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: September 8, 2015
Club Release: June 5, 2017
Consume Now through 2026
Tasting Notes
“Pale straw color. Brilliant scents of ripe kiwi, passionfruit and butterscotch. With some aeration, papaya, fig, mango, and nutmeg complex around this engaging wine. The flavors are seamless upon taste and showcase respectful winemaking at its best. There is a nice vibrancy which shows great polish, yet creamy richness to keep one coming back for more. This classic Chardonnay finishes with purity, balance, and a lasting reward. Enjoy now through 2026.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 10.5 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 33% new
Production: 18 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.03 g/L – 3.33pH
Alcohol: 14.6%
Harvest: September 29, 2014
Club Release: September 21, 2016
Consume Now through 2026
Tasting Notes
“Pale straw hue. Nice scents of lemon custard, guava, passionfruit, pineapple, papaya. Upon taste, flavors of lemon, mango, pineapple, and minerality interweave nicely. Zesty and vibrant acidity is polished by a seamless texture. The focused finish and smooth ending make for a great food pairing or enjoyed on its own. Drink now through 2021.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Barrel Aging: 9 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 36% new
Production: 17 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 3.27 pH
Alcohol: 14.1%
Harvest: October 9, 2013
Club Release: September 19, 2015
Consume Now through 2012
Tasting Notes
“Straw hue. There is a wonderful fusion of mango, pineapple, fig, and custard in the nose. This wine only gets more interesting in the palate with flavors of peach, ripe pineapple, and custard. The unctuous, dense mouth shows well the heavy clay soils from where this wine hails from. The cool climate qualities show nicely, not only in the tropical fruit aromas, but also the lively acidity in the palate. As the acidity winds down, this wine ends with a smooth and balanced texture. Drink now through 2020.”
~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Rita Hilla
Barrel Aging: 12 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 36% new
Production: 10 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.59 g/L – 3.44 pH
Alcohol: 14.5%
Harvest: September 21, 2012
Club Release: September 13, 2014
Consume Now through 2020