Testarossa Vineyards

Testarossa is a small winery located in the Bay Area making Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. I visited their tasting room today, and here are my notes:

2002 Castello Chardonnay, Central Coast
Fruity forward nose of lemon, pineapple and wood, bright acidity, fruit flavors of lemon and pineapple, and a long creamy finish. I believe this wine is a blend of fruit from several vineyards. 1989 cases produced. A very nice Chardonnay for the price ($26). My rating 86.

2003 Rosella’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Nose has lemon, citrus and grapefruit, high acid, lemon and grapefruit on the palette, with a long fruity finish. Rosella’s Vineyard is in the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey. There is only 1 acre of Chardonnay in this Vineyard and only 220 cases were produced. A nice, well made Chardonnay ($36). My rating 88.

2000 Michaud Vineyard Chardonnay
Lemony nose with hints of oak, high acid, lemon and grapefruit on the palette with a long creamy finish. This is an elegantly styled, tighter Chardonnay. Michaud Vineyard is in the Chalone region of Monterey. This is a library wine that is only available in the tasting room. 335 cases produced. ($40). The most current release from this vineyard, 2002, is sold out. My rating 89.

2002 Palazzio Pinot Noir
Nose has cherry with stemy overtones, high acid, pallet of cherry with an earthy components, long fruity finish with only soft tannins. I believe this wine is a blend of fruit from several vineyards. 2453 cases produced. A nice California Pinot Noir ($32). My rating 83.

2003 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir
Nose has cherry and plums, high acid, intense cherry, plum fruit flavors on the pallet, and a long fruity finish. The Bien Nacido Vineyard is in the Santa Maria Valley near Santa Barbara. 428 cases produced. A very nice, if somewhat pricey Pinot Noir ($54). My rating 88.

I learned that Testarossa is discontinuing their second label, Moorewood, and they have gotten permission from the Jesuits who own the Novitiate facility where they rent space, to bring back the Novitiate label as their new second label. The Jesuits operated a winery at the Los Gatos location from about 1888 until the early 1980s and they sold some of the wine not used by the church under the Novitiate label until the early 1980s. I was told they would have Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and a new Rosé under the Novitiate Label in a few months.

Tasted 1/15/2005