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Testarossa Wines

Located in Los Gatos, California, Testarossa Winery was established in 1993 by Rob and Diana Jensen. The husband-and-wife duo started by producing 25 cases in their garage; today, more than 15,000 cases are produced annually, including single-vineyard bottlings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Grapes are sourced by Testarossa from more than a dozen vineyards located throughout the Central Coast, including the world class Bien Nacido, Sleepy Hollow and Pisoni Vineyards. Testarossa’s ratings are consistently high; over the years, many of the wines have received accolades, including the 1998 Cuvée Niclaire Pinot Noir being named the #1 Pinot Noir in Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 100 Wines of 2001. The 2004 Diana's Reserve Chardonnay, 2001 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay and the 1999 Signature Reserve Chardonnay have all been awarded W.E. Editors’ Choice status.

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Testarossa 2006 Cuvée Niclaire Pinot Noir (California)

Price $75

Of all Testarossa’s 2006 Pinots, this is the most complex, and also the most ageworthy. Offers a flood of cherry, red currant, Dr. Pepper, raspberry, licorice, vanilla cookie and oaky spice flavors that are fantastically intense and interesting. Interestingly, this bottling is one of Testarossa’s highest-alcohol Pinots. Great now and for a good six more years. — S.H. (5/1/2008)

Testarossa 2009 Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Price $56

So delicious, so dazzlingly seductive, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this wine. It detonates on the palate with an explosion of cherries and raspberries, and wonderfully smoky, buttery complexities from oak. Drily crisp and finely structured in smooth, dense tannins, it offers great pleasure now, and should develop over the next 6–8 years. Production was… — S.H. (5/1/2011)

Testarossa 2008 Diana's Chardonnay (Central Coast)

Price $55

A best-of-barrels selection from the winery’s various vineyards, this is a lush, intricate Chardonnay made in the modern style. It’s fantastically rich in pineapple tart flavors, with the sweet, smoky crust, and more acidic citrus notes of Meyer lemons and limes. Oak aging and lees add fortunate layers of buttered toast and cream. Very intricate, with Chablisian… — S.H. (9/1/2010)

Testarossa 2007 Brosseau Vineyard Chardonnay (Chalone)

Editors' Choice

Price $39

How they manage to make dessert pastry flavors taste dry is a mystery. Whatever the answer is, this utterly delicious wine erupts with pineapple tart, date nut cookie, vanilla-covered orange and spicy mocha latté flavors, yet has no trace of residual sugar. Brilliant acidity makes it all clean and alive. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

Testarossa 2007 La Cruz Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast)

Editors' Choice

Price $39

Testarossa’s 2007 Chardonnays are out, and this La Cruz is right up there with the best of them. Rich in citrusy acids, it dazzles the palate with Mandarin orange, pineapple-infused crème brûlée, mineral, buttered toast and cinnamon spice flavors. Drink this decadent wine soon. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

Testarossa 2008 Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley)

Price $54

An absolutely superb Pinot Noir, sumptuously delicious now, yet capable of mid-term aging. Dry and crisp and rich in fruit, its berry-cherry, rhubarb, cola and spice flavors are balanced with a pleasant minerality and richly fine tannins. Decant this young wine for hours, even overnight. — S.H. (5/1/2010)

Testarossa 2007 Garys' Vineyard Syrah (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Price $54

A great Syrah, from a winery better known for Pinot. The wine shows true power in the blueberry, blackberry, mulberry, spice and smoke flavors. Yet it’s so elegantly constructed, with fine Central Coast acidity and imposingly rich, fine tannins. An important wine that should have an interesting future over the next 6–8 years. — S.H. (12/31/2009)

Testarossa 2007 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Editors' Choice

Price $39

This Chardonnay is very fine, with a coat of smoky oak framing ripe flavors of apricots, oranges, fudgy vanilla custard and cinnamon spices. Balancing acidity is bright and keen. The wine should benefit from some time in the cellar, if you can keep your hands off it. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

Most Reviewed Varietals

Chardonnay Pinot Noir Shiraz/Syrah

Most Reviewed Regions [All]

Chalone Monterey Russian River Valley Santa Barbara Santa Barbara County Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Lucia Highlands Santa Maria Valley Sonoma Coast Sta. Rita Hills

2009 Merry Edwards

Made from eight vineyards located throughout this sprawling appellation…

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