2021 Tondré Grapefield Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Tasting Notes
“Medium yellow hue. Intense scents of white peach, passionfruit, coconut, and apple pie leap out of the glass. With some time, notes of butterscotch, caramel, jasmine, and orange zest flow into the aroma profile. All of these qualities persist and are met with pleasant notes of grapefruit. The plush mouthfeel is tamed by bright acidity and followed by a lively, youthful, and pleasing finish. Enjoy now through 2030.”
~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
November 2022
“Rich aromas of baked lemon curd, butterscotch, yellow cake and sandalwood make for a dynamic nose on this bottling. There’s a compelling edge of grapefruit peel and Meyer lemon on the sip, where toasty nut flavors reign.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
February/March Issue 2023
Production Data
Growers: Joe and Penny Alarid
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 400 feet; East/Northeast
Soil: Sandy, gravelly loam
Vineyard Age: 14 years
Viticulture Practice: Sustainable (SIP Certified)
Vinification: Pressed Whole-cluster, fermented in French Oak
Cooperage & Ageing: 11 months in 100% French Oak, 40% new
Production: 10 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay (100% Clone 76)
Acidity: 3.17 pH, 8.66 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: September 14, 2021, hand harvested
Club Release: December 2022
Release Price: $55
Drink Now through 2030
Past Vintage Wine Scores
“Bright, smooth, classic, fruit-driven, pure and balanced.”
Anthony Dias Blue
March 2022
“Lush and deep with smooth, generous flavors of citrus and stone fruits, ripe yellow peach, balanced and classic.”
Anthony Dias Blue
February 2021
“Impressive for its concentration as well as its striking richness and fruity depth, this far-reaching effort moves up further in rank for its sense of fine crafting and extra polish. It is, in short, a serious, extremely well-made Chardonnay that is as well-proportioned as it is decidedly generous, and all of its parts, from its intense fruit and sweet oak to its integral acidity, come together in a seamlessly combined whole. Though we like it now, we predict that we will like it even more later, and it is an eminently collectable wine well-deserving of a special place in the cellar.”
Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
November 2020
“This is a rich style of Chardonnay, full of buttercream on the nose, but also vibrant, with lime balm aromas. The palate’s chalky grip warms up toward toasty, buttery flavors, layered with apple pastry and sea salt elements.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
November 2019
“Brilliant straw-yellow. An expressive bouquet evokes tangerine pear nectar jasmine and toasty lees while a dusty mineral nuance adds urgency. Potent orchard fruit and citrus pith flavors show very good definition and pick up a deeper nectarine element with aeration. Smoothly combines power and energy and closes very long and taut displaying vibrant mineral and honeysuckle qualities.”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“The 2015 Chardonnay Tondre Grapefield Vineyard delivers lemon curd, grapefruit and peach blossom notes with suggestions of baker’s yeast, orange blossoms and chalk dust. Medium-bodied, it has a great core of citrus fruit intensity and mineral layers, providing wonderful energy and verve, finishing long and zingy.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
September 2017
“Lastly, the 2014 Tondre Grapefield Chardonnay is another rich, textured, even sexy, white that has a broad, expansive, medium to full-bodied style as well as superb notes of ripe orchard fruits, caramelized pineapple, spice and integrated oak. Possessing impressive purity, moderate acidity and a decadent style, I wouldn’t push the aging curve and would drink bottles over the coming 2-4 years.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The Tondre Grapefield
Originally planted in 1997, the Tondre Grapefield is growing in popularity and recognition as well. Testarossa Winery has been making Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir since 2012 and Chardonnay since 2014. Tondre is located directly in the center of the Santa Lucia Highlands just to the south of Soberanes and Garys’ Vineyards. Joe Alarid and his team hand-care for each vine where they have multiple clones planted within the 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 21 acres of Chardonnay.