2022 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

Tasting Notes

“Pale straw color. Scents of apple, fig, molasses, nectarine, and honey unite in this austere Chardonnay. With some time in glass, notes of lemon custard flows out. While these qualities segue into the palate, they flow into a plush yet precise texture. The finish is undulating and with lively persistence. Enjoy now through 2032.”

~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
June 2024

“The 2022 Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard is a little more reserved and ethereal than the other Chardonnays in the range, but it’s soft and caressing in the mouth. Hailing from the highest-elevation site in the portfolio, the 2022 is layered, complex and soft-spoken, casting gentle floral tones, nuttiness and a cooling, minty sensation across the palate. This is supremely charming in its subtlety. ” Billy Norris, Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, April 2024

“Fresh and peachy white with ripe stone fruit, pineapple, pastry crust and cream. Medium- to full-bodied, vivid and agile, with focused acidity and a flavorful finish. Very satisfying and delicious. Drink or hold.” JamesSuckling.com, April 2024

Production Data

Growers: Franscioni Framily
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 1000 feet; Southeast
Soil: Decomposed granite/gravelly loam
Vineyard Age: 15 years
Viticulture Practice: 
Sustainable (SIP Certified)
Vinification: Pressed Whole-cluster, fermented in French Oak
Cooperage & Ageing: 18 months in French oak, 48% new
Production: 12 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay (Clone 95 & Clone 96)
Acidity: 3.3 pH, 6.16 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Harvest: September 9, 2022, hand harvested
Club Release: June 2024
Release Price: $57

Drink Now through 2032

Past Vintage Wine Scores

“The 2021 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay offers up notes of almond croissant, Bosc pears, and honeydew melon with hints of chalk dust and coriander seed. The medium-bodied palate has lovely tension, with savory layers and a chalkiness on the finish.”

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW
The Wine Independent
February 2024

“Lemon curd, apple pie and light butterscotch aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with fresh acidity and a tight and flavorful finish. Slightly salted at the end. Drink or hold.”

JamesSuckling.com
June 2023

“Smooth and juicy, clean and neatly balanced with a core of racy acidity, long and lovely.”

Anthony Dias Blue
The Tasting Panel
June 2021

“Brilliant, green-tinted gold. Mineral-tinged nectarine, orange, iodine, honey and white flowers on the intensely perfumed nose. Smooth, seamless and focused in the mouth, offering juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors that are complemented by suggestions of tarragon, sweet butter, smoky minerals and vanilla nuances. Shows excellent depth as well as vivacity and finishes minerally, chewy and impressively long, with resonating floral and orchard fruit notes. 36% new French oak.”

Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
May 2022

“Clean lines of lemon peel, baked apple and a hint of sea salt show on the nose of this bottling. There’s sip is tightly woven in texture and bright in flavors, offering poached apple and salted peach flavors.”

Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast

“Shimmering straw-yellow. Aromas of poached pear, tangerine and white peach are complicated by toasty lees and floral nuances. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit, sweet butter and honeysuckle flavors that turn livelier on the back half. Hints of tarragon and ginger emerge on a very long, smoky finish that echoes the floral and pear notes. 46% new French oak.”

Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
October 2020

“Translucent straw-yellow. Deep-pitched, smoke- and mineral-accented aromas of ripe orchard and pit fruits are complemented by pungent floral and vanilla overtones that build with aeration. Palate-coating pear nectar, peach, tangerine and buttered toast flavors pick up a smoky lees nuance on the back half. Deep yet surprisingly lively in character, delivering solid finishing cut and leaving a sexy floral note behind.”

Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
November 2019

Sierra Mar Vineyard

The Sierra Mar Vineyard is owned by the Franscioni Family and is located at one of the highest elevations in the Santa Lucia Highlands at just over 1,000 ft.  The land is a dramatic 44-acre site that has been in the Franscioni Family for four generations and was originally part of a 420-acre cattle ranch. The steep and remote vineyard is divided by terrain and alluvial plains into distinct blocks with individual terroir.  Gary Franscioni says Sierra Mar’s naturally thin soils, gusting winds, lack of water and high-altitude inaccessibility make for extremely exceptional wines. Testarossa is proud to be able to make wines from all five of the Franscioni/Pisoni properties.

Past Vintages

Wine Production Data

Tasting Notes

“Pale straw hue. Abundant scents of ripe fig, dates, ripe pear, melon, apple, and nectarine provide some nice lift to this wine. Once on the palate, these qualities unite with notes of grapefruit. The texture exhibits the higher altitude where the vineyard resides, showcasing brightness, liveliness, and precise tannins. This Chardonnay finishes with a refreshing element and a persistence touting it’s likely long lifespan ahead. Enjoy now through 2030.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
June 2023

Production Data

Growers: Franscioni Framily
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 1000 feet; Southeast
Soil: Decomposed granite/gravelly loam
Vineyard Age: 14 years
Viticulture Practice: 
Sustainable (SIP Certified)
Vinification: Pressed Whole-cluster, fermented in French Oak
Cooperage & Ageing: 18 months in 100% French Oak, 43% new
Production: 14 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay (Clone 95 & Clone 96)
Acidity: 3.31 pH, 6.69 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Harvest: September 24, 2021, hand harvested
Club Release: June 2023

Drink Now through 2030

Tasting Notes

“Pale yellow hue. Opulent scents of passionfruit, kiwi, white peach, and golden delicious apple leap out of the glass. At second instance, notes of pineapple and coconut give a pleasing quality to the fruit profile. Upon taste, the aromas segue seamlessly into the flavor dimension along with creamy caramel. With an edginess and tension in the texture, this high altitude Chardonnay delivers intensity, freshness, and an intricate finish. Enjoy now through 2031.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
June 2021

Production Data

Growers: Franscioni Framily
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 1000 feet; Southeast
Soil: Decomposed granite/gravelly loam
Vineyard Age: 12 years
Viticulture Practice: 
Sustainable (SIP Certified)
Vinification: Pressed Whole-cluster, fermented in French Oak
Cooperage & Ageing: 18 months in 100% French Oak, 36% new
Production: 12 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Clone: 50% Clone 95, 50% Clone 96
Acidity: 3.49 pH, 5.81 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Harvest: September 20, 2019, hand harvested
Club Release: June 2021

Drink Now through 2031

Tasting Notes

“Deep straw hue. This hillside Chardonnay offers concentrated scents of brioche, apple pie, ripe fig, honeydew, and watermelon. With some air, notes of ripe grapefruit and vanilla bean offer a rounding effect on the palate. Upon taste this repertoire continues along with elements of honey and ripe peach. The texture offers precision of sensations while showing tension in that the best days are yet to come for this wine. The finish is intricate, persistent, and perfect. Enjoy now through 2028.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Franscioni Framily
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Barrel Aging: 17 months
Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 46% new
Production: 13 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 6.54 g/L – 3.35 pH
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: September 19, 2018

Drink Now through 2028

Tasting Notes

“Pale straw hue. Brilliant scents of orange, caramel, butterscotch, and fuji apple. These are followed by notes of ripe banana, white peach, and grapefruit. Upon taste, these characteristics persist on the palate and are framed with tension and vibrancy. While this wine is fresh and edgy at this time, its density and concentration will continue to unravel and soften this wine over time. Enjoy now through 2026.”

~ Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking

Production Data

Growers: Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Barrel Aging: 10 months

Cooperage: 100% French Oak, 33% new
Production: 10 barrels
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Acidity: 7.25 g/L – 3.29 pH
Alcohol: 14.2%
Harvest: September 8, 2017
Club Release: October 31, 2018

Drink Now through 2026

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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