2005 Brosseau Chalone Chardonnay

The Brosseau family’s willingness to work closely with other winemakers on the man¬agement of their blocks is an invaluable asset to the quality of the fruit they produce. The Chardonnay vineyards were first planted in 1981-82 and have expanded since then. Our section is all own-rooted Wente clone and the low vigor of the site yields a mere 1.5-2 tons per acre, allowing the vines to concentrate all of their efforts on ripening the smaller crop. The grapes from Brosseau produce a lovely wine with intense minerality and elegant balance. Nestled in the hills of the Chalone appellation, just around the bend from Pinnacles National Monument, the Brosseau Vineyard has produced fantas¬tic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for many years. It is a very soil-driven site with sections of the vineyard nearly white from limestone. Because of this, wines made from Brous¬seau fruit gain a pronounced minerality, with a soft, structured mouthfeel and a range of earth flavors not often found in other California vineyards. 2005 marks our first year producing Brosseau Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Our Brosseau Chardonnay has a nose of wet stone and pineapple with hints of cedar and integrated oak. On the palate, the fruit opens to include apple nuances and pineapple, with good oak structure, wonderful texture from the limestone, and a linger¬ing finish of seamless acidity. The finish actually builds up again before finally trailing off over a long period. It is showing very well right now, and will open up even more over the coming years.