Pale yellow with a green tinge...showing excellent lift to the lemon curd and toast aromas. Round but firm, with solid supporting structure and grip and an exotic hint of coconutty oak. Finishes suave and very long, with superb lift. The strong acids of 2010 required later picking, noted winemaker Graham Weertz.

This Chardonnay has all the bells and whistles the winemaker can bestow on it. It's soft and creamy, with flavors of sweetly-sour pineapple and lemon-drop candy, buttered toast and savory cinnamon spices. Fine acidity gives a sheen to the richness.

(from grapes at an altitude of 1,800 feet): Bright yellow. Precise, high-pitched aromas of spring flowers, powdered stone and menthol suggest Puligny-Montrachet. Juicy, dry and stony in the mouth, with insidious cut and intensity to the tightly coiled flavors of white peach and citrus fruits. Not an opulent style of chardonnay but saturates the palate with dusty stone on the vibrant aftertaste. Very classy California chardonnay.

...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.

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. A handful of these Chardonnays (Gravel Bench and Gold Run) see 100% new oak. Of the other 2009 Chardonnays, the Red Point, Broken Road, Bear Point and Gravel Bench are similar to the Upper Barn, with the Gravel Bench perhaps having a more flinty character and the Bear Point slightly more structure.

Chardonnay over the years has had success in the Alexander Valley, but it was of a fashion that reflected the warmth of the location. They were generally fat and oily, and there was certainly a market for that. But Alexander Valley is Cabernet country and Chardonnay will likely always play second fiddle. That said, there are exceptions and Stonestreet's Broken Road Vineyard Chardonnay is a good example. It's an Alexander Valley Chardonnay that behaves a bit like a cool-climate Chardonnay, from its firm acid backbone to the hint of minerality that is unusual for this region. At the core is a beautiful beam of lemony fruit, what I call lemon creme or lemon oil, and it's the marker for seriously good Chardonnay. The oak expresses itself with a lovely spice note on the nose that carries through the finish. It's elegant but not lean, exhibiting an alluring, creamy texture. You might not guess it was from Sonoma Coast or the Russian River, but you'd likely never think Alexander Valley, either. The cool-climate attributes are no doubt due to the elevation of the vineyard -- 1800 feet up Alexander Mountain. Whatever the reason, you are unlikely to find a much better Chard in these parts.

Bright yellow-straw. Pungent lime zest, green tropical fruits, pineapple and snap pea on the nose. Densely packed, tight and minerally, with terrific definition and a tactile quality reminiscent of peach nectar. Very concentrated, vibrant wine with a long, lightly saline finish. From vines planted at an altitude of 1,800 feet.

Aromas of mangoes, pineapples, white peaches, honeyed hazelnuts, and cold steel emerge from this full-bodied, stunningly concentrated effort. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted.

This very fine Chardonnay has a stony, minerally component, like a lick of cold steel. That vibrancy leads to rich pineapple and green apple purée flavors, enriched with cinnamon spices, toasty oak and creamy lees. It's a complex, elegantly dry wine that will pick up bottle nuances over the next 2-3 years.

The 2008 Chardonnay Red Point exhibits full-bodied notes of brioche, honeysuckle, caramelized nectarines and oranges, and plenty of lemon zest as well as spice. It is a dense, full-bodied beauty to drink over the next 5-8 years. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted.

Quite oaky, with vanilla and caramelized meringue notes dominating, but underneath is a dry, crisp Chardonnay of enormous size. It's minerally, with a rich vein of pineapples and mangoes.

This vineyard has a long, distinguished history, even before it passed into Jackson Family's hands. It's a great mountain property, yielding focused, concentrated flavors of tropical fruits that are well oaked. There's also a firm minerality. One of the few Chards that can age.

Lush and opulent as are Stonestreet's other Chards, with potent flavors of ripe mashed pineapples, creme brulee, vanilla custard, vanilla and smoky sandalwood. Dramatic and compelling. The crisp acidity and tightness suggest short-term ageability. Nov-2013.

This is a first release from the winery's estate vineyard, high atop the Mayacamas Mountains overlooking Alexander Valley. It's intense and concentrated in pineapple crème brûée, peach purée, green apple, honeysuckle and smoky sandalwood flavors, undergirded with a firm minerality. Delicious and compelling, and should develop over the next six years.

This is a very powerful Chardonnay, brimming in guava, golden mango, white peach, pear and Key lime pie flavors, to which smoky oak adds even richer layers of butterscotch and caramel. A crisp edge of peppery acidity provides a clean, zesty balance to this enormous wine.

2005 CHARDONNAY BROKEN ROAD ALEXANDER VALLEY A new offering is the 300-case cuvee of 2005 Chardonnay Broken Road, which was aged in 42% new French oak, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and was put through full malolactic. It possesses abundant mineral and honeyed citrus characteristics along with a subtle notion of wood, an excellent texture, and a long, tannic, structured finish. Produced from a vineyard planted at an 1,800 foot elevation, this beauty is, sadly, limited in availability. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years.

Possesses elegant citrus oil, orange and lemon blossom notes, a beautifully textured, full-bodied mouthfeel, tremendous purity, and a long finish with well-integrated wood.

Winemaker Adam Lee's first crack at a Santa Barbara County blend is a hit, and he plays in the lighter end of the Pinot Noir spectrum as well. Aromas of crushed slate, red cherry and rose petals lead into a bouncy palate that's tart in flavors of pomegranate and raspberry.

The 2017s From Sonoma The 2017 Pinot Noir Edmeades Vineyard comes from a single vineyard in Anderson Valley and sees upwards of 50% stems and is aged in neutral oak. It has lots of blue fruits as well as notes of violets, forest floor, underbrush, and hints of mint. It's rounded and beautifully textured, with sweet tannins and nicely integrated acidity. It's a rocking wine.

The 2017s From Sonoma Notes of pine forest, spice, violets, wild strawberries, and lifted blue fruits emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard, which is medium-bodied, with a silky, elegant texture and no hard edges. It’s one of the perfumed, pretty, elegant wines and ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.

The 2017s From Sonoma From a vineyard formerly known as Keefer Ranch, the 2017 Pinot Noir Perry Ranch Vineyard is made from a mix of clones and saw 25% stems. This forward, rich, sexy Pinot Noir offers tons of ripe currants, spice, forest floor, and earthy aromas and flavors. Nicely balanced and with tons of fruit, it has ripe tannins and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.

The 2017s From Sonoma The 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast comes from multiple sites on the coast and was fermented with close to 50% whole clusters. Aged in just 17% new oak, it has a ripe, sexy style to go with wild strawberry and blueberry fruits, some smoked earth and underbrush notes, medium body, a rounded texture, and rock-solid balance. It's a beautiful wine.

Lurid ruby. Vibrant and focused on the nose displaying intense red berry preserve Asian spice and floral scents and a touch of smoky minerality. Juicy and sharply focused on the palate offering lively raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and unfurl steadily with aeration. Fine-grained tannins add framework and closing grip to the finish which echoes the red fruit and mineral notes.

Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Highlands The 2016 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine. Coming from two sites and fermented with 20% stems and aged 15 months in 30% new oak, it offers a deeper ruby color as well as a classic bouquet of red currants, black cherries, scorched earth, spice, and forest floor. Elegant, medium-bodied, and layered, it's a gem.

A juicy, fleshy style, with caressing tannins amid a core of plum, cherry and wild berry flavors, highlighting floral scents of fresh berry and wilted rose.