The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall comes from another steep mountain site and vines planted in 2002. It spent 20 months in 60% new French oak. Black raspberries, crème de cassis, spice box, bay leaf, and dried flower notes all flow to a full-bodied, rounded, beautifully concentrated wine that has building tannin, nicely integrated acidity, and tons of minerality and dried earth character on the palate.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard is a little youthfully reticent, revealing suggestions of crushed black berries and blueberries with hints of dried herbs, menthol, baker's chocolate, black olives and scorched earth. Medium-bodied, very firm, very taut and with great tension, it is very tightly wound with all the elements for a truly exciting, long-lived wine.

The 2013 Legacy Proprietary Red is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot was aged 26 months in 60% new French oak. Coming from high-elevation estate vineyards in Alexander Valley, especially the Jimtown Vineyard, the wine is beautiful, with fabulous concentration and purity, a dense purple color, a gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit nose, with licorice, camphor and graphite. The wine is full-bodied and opulent with wonderfully integrated, toasty new oak. Layered and rich, the wine can be drunk now or cellared for up to another 20-25 years. Kudos to South African winemaker Graham Weerts for his efforts with this offering.

The 2012 Proprietary Red Legacy, an 866-case blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc, may turn out to be the finest Legacy ever made. It exhibits terrific intensity along with beautiful notes of plums, blackberries, blueberries, licorice, tobacco leaf and damp earth. Full-bodied, softer, with more velvety tannins than the other Cabernets, it is a plush, drinkable red to consume over the next 15-20 years.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith is the smallest cuvée (198 cases) coming from a vineyard at a 1,750-foot elevation. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 70% new French oak is dense, full-bodied and opulent, with blueberry and blackberry fruit, wet rocks giving it a mineral-laced character, and a full-throttle finish with moderately sweet tannin. This is a 20-to 30-year wine.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard, which sees 57% new French oak for 20 months, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with a deep, opaque purple color and notes of charcoal, créme de cassis, graphite and white chocolate. It is full-bodied, multilayered, very deep, impressive and long.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's is the richest and inkiest of these Cabernet Sauvignons. Blackberry jam, cloves, espresso, gravel, graphite, violets and tar all burst across the palate in a voluptuous, intense wine loaded with class and pure intensity. This is a fabulous showing from Stonestreet.

This is an awesome Cabernet, that’s so packed with blackberries and cassis, it blows your mind. The richness is superbly balanced by fine acidity and sweet, complex tannins that rein everything into a focused structure. Feels velvety, refined and ageable. Hold until 2018 and drink it for an additional decade or beyond.

Full-bodied, rich and complex with classic aromas of blackberry, cassis and blackcurrant wrapped in a judicious weave of smoky oak. Great for the cellar. A wine that almost jumps out of the glass with its vibrant character. The mountain terroir of the vineyards shows through in the depth and complexity of this wine. Superb craftsmanship. Try it with rare filet mignon for an exquisite sensory experience. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: filet mignon.

The monster 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall is an extraordinarily dense, full-bodied, rich wine boasting notes of violets, blueberries, blackberries, cassis, cedar, graphite, and flowers. But patience is essential. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines that I have tasted.

The Cabernet Sauvignon really sticks out, with its cassis flavors and big, tough tannins. Meanwhile, new oak adds lush layers of smoke, woodspice and buttered toast. The result is a tough young wine that needs time, and possibly lots. Don't think of opening it before 2011, and it should develop for many more years. Potentially great.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard is a wonderfully complete wine that melds fruit intensity and structure. Apricot, tangerine, pineapple, mint and lightly buttered notes give the Upper Barn a slightly richer flavor profile to match its oily, textured feel. Floral notes appear later, adding lift to round out this superb Chardonnay from Stonestreet.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard is fabulous. Vivid, deep and translucent, it has much to offer. Crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried flowers develop first in a Chardonnay that is all about nuance. Just as subtle on the palate, the 2017 is slow to reveal itself, and yet there is so much complexity and nuance. It is also the most complete Chardonnay in the range.

The 2017s From Sonoma Lots of golden fruits, brioche, toasty oak and rocky, charcoal-like mineral notes dominate the 2017 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard, which comes from a single, east-facing black that loses the sun in the afternoon. Aged 11 months all in new oak, it hits the palate with a more masculine, mineral-laced style, has medium to full-bodied richness, and a great finish. Give bottles a year and it will keep for over a decade.

Made all from clone 4 and brought up in 44% new French oak, the 2016 Chardonnay Broken Road is classic as well as gorgeous. White flowers, citrus blossom, brioche, and a hint of classic, salty minerality flow to a rich, concentrated, impeccably balanced Chardonnay that has terrific acidity and purity.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases Fermented and aged in French oak for 11 months (57% new), the 2016 Chardonnay Red Point displays pretty orange blossom, fresh ginger and talc notes over a core of lemongrass, nectarine and Bosc pears with a waft of toast. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and delivering great pear and citrus fruit-inspired intensity, it finishes long and layered.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases Aged 11 months in 100% new Côte d'Or French oak, the 2016 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard gives up alluring lemon curd, warm peaches and honey toast scents with suggestions of allspice, crushed cashews, mandarin peel and jasmine. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals tons of savory and spicy nuances with a racy line lifting the peachy core to a long, chalky finish.

The 2015 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard opens with lovely grapefruit, fresh pears and apple pie notes with touches of croissant and toasted almonds plus a waft of brine. Medium-bodied, very elegant and very refreshing, the palate and a wonderfully mineral character and long, beautifully nuanced finish.

Another beauty is the 2014 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge, which displays lots of honeysuckle, plenty of minerality, some hints of citrus oil, apple blossom, and white peach. It is another full-bodied, beautiful Chardonnay with a subtle dosage of wood. Drink it over the next 6-7 years.

The 2013 Chardonnay Red Point is another small cuvée of 269 cases, showing plenty of apple butter, tangerine oil, citrus, delicate oak and full-bodied power. Most of these seem to be in the 14% natural alcohol range, giving them good glycerin and body.

From the lowest elevation (1,000 feet) vineyard, the 2012 Chardonnay Bear Point reveals lots of orange and apricot marmalade, pineapple and honeysuckle notes along with wonderful acidity and a fresh, lively style. Enjoy it over the next 5-7 years.

Full bright yellow. Ripe, deep aromas of lemon peel, tangerine, beeswax, crushed rock and dusty herbs, with hints of honey and tropical fruits. Large-scaled, rich and tactile, with nearly viscous flavors of lemon, white peach and butterscotch. Really compelling, ripe, vibrant fruit here, and wonderfully broad and dry. Very complex and sexy wine, a brilliant rendition of this outstanding chardonnay vineyard.

All the Chardonnays are 100% Chardonnay aged in anywhere from 50% to 100% new French oak for nearly 11 months prior to being bottled. The Alexander Mountain Estate is a superb high elevation vineyard source and the Upper Barn (made famous by Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer in the decade of the nineties) is a true grand cru site for Chardonnay. The other blocks, which vary from 900 feet to a whopping 1,800 feet elevation, producing stunning Chardonnays that have abundant characteristics in common. As the scores indicate, my favorite is the 2009 Chardonnay Upper Barn simply because there is always a little more to this offering. From an 1,800 foot elevation, it reveals lots of honeyed pear, tropical fruit, brioche, nectarine and marmalade notes along with terrific acidity as well as richness. Moreover, little oak can be detected despite the fact that it (as well as its siblings) sees 50% new oak.

This is an intense, nervy Chardonnay, rich in acids and minerals that offer a tang to the palate. It's also dazzlingly rich, with complex flavors of pineapples, honeysuckle and buttered toast. Shows extraordinary concentration throughout the long, spicy finish.

The medium straw-colored 2008 Chardonnay Gold Run is a full-bodied, rich, vibrant style of wine packed and stacked with honeyed citrus, marmalade, creme brulee aromas and flavors. It should evolve 6-8+ years. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted.