Brosseau Vineyard

Chalone

When I started Bedrock Wine Co. the thought of making Chardonnay had not really passed through my head. That is, until I tasted the wines from Brosseau Vineyard. Though all the wines from Brosseau are excellent (the Syrah’s and Pinot’s are killer), it was the Chardonnay that first captured my imagination.

What makes Brosseau so unique is its age, soil, elevation, and farming. The Chardonnay vines are own-rooted (no rootstock) and grow in some of the only limestone found in California. Not only are these two factors unique, the organically farmed, Wente-clone, vines were planted in 1981 on a westward facing slope at 1600’ in the Gabilan Mountains. When one hears the stories that rocket-scientist Jon Brosseau (he is indeed a rocket scientist for Lockheed) went through the plant and maintain the vineyard back when no water was available you get the sense that the vineyard’s existence is a bit of a miracle. The current generation, Bill Brosseau, a gifted winemaker in his own right, now oversees the farming.

The vines yield a scant 1 ton per acre, and Bedrock will make under 70 cases of the wine. What is perhaps most amazing though is the minerally grapes are flavor ripe at well under 23 brix. Thus, the finished wine can be under 13% alcohol, and resembles in shape and feel something from the Old World. This is a fascinating and singular vineyard, and one that Bedrock Wine Co. is blessed to receive.