Testarossa 2013 Brosseau Vineyard Pinot Noir

Testarossa wines have a special place in my heart. Not just because I was married at their beautiful Los Gatos winery (although…that doesn’t hurt…) but also because their wines are just…so…good. In fact, one of the main reasons I chose to get married at Testarossa was because I fell in love with their wines. And what better way to celebrate love than with love?

Their wines are friendly and approachable and yet have such depth and complexity — casual and serious drinkers alike are bound to enjoy.

I’ve been a wine club member off and on for several years, so I’ve got a good few bottles of Testarossa’s finest in my cellar. And any time a birthday, anniversary, or I just feel like an occasion calls for something nice, I pull out a Testarossa and try to accompany it with a complimentary meal.

Today, let’s celebrate with a bottle of Testarossa’s 2013 Brosseau Vineyard Pinot Noir.

About the Wine: The Brosseau Vineyard, owned by Testarossa’s Director of Winemaking, Bill Brosseau’s family, is located in the heart of Monterey County — rich with a rocky terroir and limestone soils.

The 2013 Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from the Chalone Appallation in Monterey; aged in 100% French oak barrels; 14.1 ABV

Flavor Profile: This wine is a dark ruby-red in the glass — just a shade more filling than opaque with a luminous quality along the edges. The scent is lush with dark red and purple fruits — black cherries, ripe plums, cranberries, boysenberries — along with an herbaceouness, as if we’re smelling the bushes these fruits came from.

What I enjoyed most about this wine was the surprise I got on the taste. Traditionally, Testarossa wines are quite oaky with a soft, round mouthfeel, and an almost creamy texture — it’s one of the qualities I quite enjoy in Testarossa wines, and the one I probably look forward to the most. But this wine was different. Along with those fruit and herb notes, there’s a distinct hit of minerality — those sea-impacted limestone soils in Monterey speak to you, cutting through the fruit, and bringing forth a refreshing quality to the wine. But the wine is oaked, and this comes into play during the finish: it’s a soft and supple, long finish that rounds out the flavors and the mouthfeel. Tannins are medium, acid is medium-low, but you don’t get any strong hits from either because there’s just enough oak infused into the Pinot Noir.

Food Pairing: So well balanced, the Testarossa 2013 Brosseau Vineyard Pinot Noir could pair well with almost any meal from pizza to duck a l’orange. If you want to elevate the body of the wine, pair it with a heartier meat like rack of lamb or filet mignon accompanied with a rich au jus. If you want to play up the refreshing minerality, keep things light with roasted chicken or a grilled white fish accompanied by fresh, herbaceous vegetables.

More Info: I received this wine as a gift (like I said, Testarossa equals celebration in my house), so cannot reveal the exact price. Unfortunately, because this is part of a single-vineyard release, this specific Brosseau Vineyard wine is no longer available. However, for a complete list of available Testarossa wines (including single series selections) and to purchase them directly from the winery, please do visit the Testarossa website. And if you’re local to the area, I do recommend stopping by. The staff is always friendly and there’s always amazing wines on the tasting menu. Cheers!

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