2016 Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir

Santa Maria Valley AVA

2016 Testarossa Sierra Madre Pinot Noir bottle

Tasting Notes

“Deep red hue. Engaging aromas of cloves, cinnamon, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate and cranberry. With some aeration, elements of jasmine, orange-zest, and papaya come out as well. The flavor profile is very true to the aromas and is met with unctuous quality, density, and complexity. While youthful now, this wine is packed with abundancy and hedonistic enjoyment which will bode well into the future. Drink now through 2025”

~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

“Deep, bright-hued red. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, vanilla, exotic spices and rose oil, with a smoky mineral nuance emerging as the wine opens up. Juicy, focused and impressively concentrated, offering intense raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that become livelier on the back half. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes very long and sweet, with fine-grained tannins lending shape and closing grip.”

Josh Raynolds
Antoni Galloni’s Vinous

 

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Ageing: 15 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 54% new
Production: 18 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 5.59 g/L – 3.66 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: September 3, 2016
Club Release: October 31, 2018

Consume Now 2025

Past Vintage Wine Scores

“Winemaker Bill Brosseau hits a single vineyard home run with this bottling from one of the Central Coast’s oldest sites. It shows exotic plum, tangy cranberry, pine needle, juniper and pencil shaving scents on the nose. The palate is steeped in mulberry, marjoram and curry-like Indian spices, proving dynamic and delicious in the most compelling ways.”

Wine Enthusiast

“Rock solid, with lots of framboise, cassis, licorice and spice box, with a kiss of oak, the 2014 Pinot Noir Sierra Madre Vineyard comes from the Santa Maria Valley, which is in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. It is rich, textured and balanced on the palate, with a great finish. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years.”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Mossy, dank, forest-floor aromas of juniper, chaparral shrub, pencil lead and spiced porcini mushrooms mix with a cooked rhubarb character on the nose of this wine from single-vineyard specialist Bill Brosseau. Cranberry and tart cherry flavors are decorated with rainbow peppercorns, herb-crusted roast beef, bay leaf, eucalyptus and camphor, with layers upon layers of complexity.”

Wine Enthusiast

“Sourced from the outstanding Sierra Madre Vineyard, this bottling exhibits vibrant dark cherry fruit and is very soft and evolved on the palate with great intensity of flavor. Mouth filling with hints of spice, it offers dark cherry fruit flavors with excellent acidity and balance. A beautiful wine ready to drink.”

International Wine Review

“Looking at the reds from Santa Barbara County and a beautiful Pinot that offers up a pure, layered and structured profile, the 2011 Pinot Noir Sierra Madre Vineyard is loaded with black cherry, licorice, mineral, baking spices and scorched earth aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with surprising density for the vintage, it will dish out loads of pleasure over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021.”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
August 2013

The Sierra Madre Vineyard

The Sierra Madre Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley is owned by Doug and Jan Circle. It sits at 215 ft. above sea level and consists of 155 acres, 91 of Chardonnay and 64 of Pinot Noir. It is the most northern and one of the western-most vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, only 15 miles from the coast, and benefits greatly from its unique marine influence. It is also one of the few valleys in the state that run East/West as opposed to North/South. An exceptionally cool growing season encourages slow ripening over a long period of time, allowing for the development of structure and flavor intensity

Past Vintages

Wine Production Data

Tasting Notes

“Medium red hue. This Pinot Noir at first scent, shows notes of cloves, tea, currant, boysenberry, black pepper, and violets. Upon some aeration, characters of jasmine, marmalade, papaya, butterscotch and red licorice leap out of the glass. All of these elements continue on the palate with loads of cloves, marmalade, papaya, and jasmine. This wine is all pleasure with silky tannins, polished oak, and modest acidity. The finish is bright, intricate, focused and youthful all wrapped in one. Enjoy now through 2025”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging: 11.5 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 56% new
Production: 9 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 5.95 g/L – 3.58 pH
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: August 11, 2015
Club Release: November 1, 2017

Consume Now through 2025

 

Tasting Notes

“Medium dark red hue. There is a wonderful blast of spice, cranberry and pomegranate. There is also fresh strawberries, violets, cloves, cinnamon, raspberry, and the list keeps going on. While difficult to stop smelling this wine and start consuming, upon taste there is a focusing into fruity profiles of cranberry, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. The long, complex tannins and the bright acidity give way to an intricate and lengthy finish to this hedonistic wine. Enjoy now through 2023.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging: 9.5 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 48% new
Production: 25 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 5.79 g/L – 3.56 pH
Alcohol: 14.5%
Harvest: September 16, 2014
Club Release:

Consume Now through 2023

 

Tasting Notes

“Deep red color.  Dense aromas of chokecherry, strawberry, cloves, and violets jump out of the glass.  Upon aeration, the nose of this wine becomes more engaging with a complex fusion of fruit, floral, and spice notes.  Flavors of spice and fruit are intertwined with silky tannins and vibrant acidity.  This wine ends with a long, multi-layered finish.  Drink now through 2021.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging: 10 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 56% new
Production: 24 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 3.54 pH
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: September 11, 2013
Club Release:

Consume Now through 2021

 

Tasting Notes

“Deep red color.  Scents of cranberry, cloves, and red cherry leap out of the glass.  Upon aeration, notes of mango, strawberry, and crème brulee round out the complex aroma profile.  Layers of cherry, cranberry, and mango unite in a hedonistic fashion on the palate, showing the unique terroir of this site.  The tannins are quite lush and silky while the acidity is ever so subtle in the background.  This wine finishes with suppleness and a lingering finish, making it difficult to put your glass down.  Drink now through 2020.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging: 10.5 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 58% new
Production: 17 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 6.31 g/L – 3.47 pH
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: September 2012
Club Release: January 17, 2014

Consume Now through 2020

 

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging: 10 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, % new
Production: 14 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity:
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest: September 2011
Club Release: April 5, 2013

Consume Now through 2020

 

Tasting Notes

“Medium yellow color. This Chardonnay exhibits an intriguing nose of butterscotch, caramel, peach sorbet, then followed up with ripe fig, apricot, and vanilla bean. The flavors are seamless expressions of the aroma profile and are paired with hints of passion fruit and guava. While the initial texture seems rich, the vibrant acidity helps create layers in this hedonistic wine, leading to a cleansing finish. Drink now through 2017”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging:
Cooperage:
Production: 9 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity: 6.09 g/L
Alcohol: 14.4%
Harvest:
Club Release: 

Consume Now through 2017

 

Tasting Notes

“Dark red color. Initial aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, blueberry and cloves are evident upon fi rst scent. With time and aeration, notes of lemon, black pepper, anise and blackberry shape this dense and complex Pinot Noir. Silky,luscious tannins are tamed by abundant acidity, ending this hedonistic wine with a delicate, lingering finish. Drink now through 2016.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Circle Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Barrel Aging:
Cooperage:
Production: 4 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Acidity:
Alcohol: 14.1%
Harvest:
Club Release: 

Consume Now through 2016

 

WEATHER HOLD ADVISORY: Please note that due to the fragile nature of wine and the impending winter/summer season, we are unable to ship wines to states whose temperatures have dropped below 32  / risen above 90 degrees on average. Orders will be kept in our temperature controlled cellar until more moderate temperatures are reached. If you feel your area might be impacted, please contact us at clubt@testarossa.com to inquire about shipping options.

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