Most of the fruit responsible for this wine came from the cooler regions of Carneros and Russian River. Yet it has that developed, ripe quality along with spicy and toasty under tones. One glass and you'll ask for more.

…mineral and oak aromas, tart peach flavors, big and crisp, with superb balance.

The aromas carry ripe fruit scents flavoring peach and tropical tones as well as a fair measure of toast and lees, each of which stays nicely in balance without becoming excessive or dominant. A viscous entry furthers the rich impression offered by the nose, and the wine shows excellent balance at mid-palate with a polished quality that makes it appealing to drink. This well-crafted wine is lengthy at the finish and carries toasty oak as well as hints of lemons in its aftertaste.

Stonestreet is a star winery in Jess Jackson's Artisans and Estates stable and one taste of this wonderful Chardonnay will help you understand why. This is a delicious, powerful, fruit-forward Chardonnay made in the textbook Sonoma style that California Chardonnay drinkers have come to expect and love. It's dense, structured and shows great aging potential. Blended from fruit grown in various sub-appellations of Sonoma County, including Carneros, Russian River Valley and Jackson's own Alexander Mountain Estate in the Alexander Valley, this wine has everything going for it. It's lush as can be, but 100 percent malolactic fermentation thankfully did not strip this wine of its zing. With ample acidity, it recently matched up superbly with grilled, spicy shrimp and a hunk of aged Pecorino cheese. The goal of Stonestreet winemaker Mike Westrick is to create heavyweight and middleweight wines at the same time. A strange goal, you may say. But the wine achieves what it sets out to do. About 30,000 cases were released nationally in May. Suggested price is about $25.

All sorts of big aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, hazelnut and highly toasted oak. Slightly funky-yeasty quality will appeal to some tastes.

Deep, ripe fruit scents in the readily accessible aromas make an impressive opening statement for this wine's appeal. Rounded with a creamy palatal feel, the wine is built around a solid core of appley fruit and its fruit flavors are nicely seasoned, yet never overwhelmed, by spicy sweet oak. It has excellent balance, a lengthy finish and should gain further appeal with six months of cellaring.

The aromas, while basically fruity and pushed by some oaky richness, are not overwhelming in their intensity and range. Favoring a peachy, nectarine flavor direction as much as it does that of ripe apples, the wine is round, well-balanced and fairly fleshy.

This is a rich, toasty, complex wine with tiers of pear, spice, toast and smoky oak flavors, followed by a long finish. A real mouthful.

Our favorite (Sonoma Chardonnay) was Stonestreet's 1993 Chardonnay. Toast, spice and brown sugar on the nose match the lush, buttery-caramel flavors on the palate. This is probably Stonestreet's biggest and best yet.

A high-toned aroma, slightly citrus-scented with a suggestion of tropical fruit, seasoned with sweet, spicy oak. The fruit is wonderfully concentrated and opulent but not heavy, and it has a polished seamless texture. At once rich and light, the wine seems somehow poised in the mouth from forepalate to finish.

This rich, ripe oak-infused wine suggests such varied elements as tropical fruit, sweet cream, butterscotch and almond paste but never gives in to candied simplicity. Downright fat on the palate, it coats the mouth with lots of glycerine, and its finish is punctuated by a note of heat that serves as no subtle reminder of the wine's extra ripeness.

Balance, accurate if light varietal personality and a long velvety finish are the draws here. This wine doesn't shout its presence, but its grace makes it an ideal dinner companion.

Medium-bodied and generally well-balanced. Oak, roasted grain, apple and citrus peel can all be found.

Number 2 of 10 Top American Chardonnays.

A rich, complex mixture of subtle fruit, oak and spice, all pleasantly structured within a silky texture. Made in the style of the great white Burgundies, the wine exhibits a round, seamless body with scents and flavors of toasted biscuts and cream topped with cinnamon and apples. This certainly is not your typical California chardonnay. You won't be disappointed.

Pleasing sappy, appley fruit with cinnamon and spice.

Fragrant scents of vanilla custard, light toast and caramel lead to deep, luscious flavors of citrus, butterscotch and vanilla. Mouthfilling and delicious; a big wine worth the price.

Ripe apples, pineapples, a bit of buttered toast and a subtle hint of herbs join together in the complex, medium-deep nose and broad flavors of this smoothly balanced, medium-full-bodied working.

Hints of tropical fruit, with butter and toasty oak flavors.

Clean, complex and persistent fruit flavors and subtle use of oak.

Pleasing sappy, appley fruit with cinnamon and spice notes.

The wine is, quite simply, magnificent. Amazing finesse and charm. In a great chardonnay vintage, this may be the wine of the vintage.

Rich, well-fruited and well-defined, the wine reaches forward with sweet ripe apple and tropical fruit scents enriched with sweet, creamy, toasty oak. What is promised by the nose is delivered by deep flavors, generous fruit and a glycerine-rich mouthfeel. An exceptionally successful Chardonnay debut.

What to Drink Now: Winter White Wines Slightly savory, creamy and rich, Stonestreet Estate Bear Point Vineyard Chardonnay layers caramel, golden apple, and lemon curd, finishing with a touch of briny salinity.