Jan and Jon Brosseau first planted their vineyard in 1981 and 1982, high above the Salinas Valley in the heart of the Chalone appellation. Their son, Bill Brosseau has now joined in the farming of the vineyard, and his knowledge of winemaking and his willingness to work closely with other winemakers on the management of their blocks is an invaluable asset to the quality of fruit they produce.

The vineyard typifies Burgundian terroir, with its cool Monterey coastal climate and rocky limestone soils, and is a perfect site for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With the Pinnacles National Monument just around the bend and the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands across the way, it also offers stunning views, making it an even greater pleasure to make visits to check on the status of the vines.

Our Pinot Noir block was planted in 1999 to the Mt. Eden clone on 110R rootstock, and is trained to VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning). Typical yields are 2-3 tons per acre, and the wine shows a wonderful balance of fruit, structure, and minerality.

The Chardonnay vineyards were first planted in 1981-82 to the Wente and Chalone clones, and Dijon clones were added as the vineyards expanded. Our section is all own-rooted Wente clone and the low vigor of the site yields a mere 1.5-2 tons/acre, allowing the vines to concentrate all of their efforts on ripening the smaller crop. Chardonnay from Brosseau produces a lovely wine with intense minerality and elegant balance.