Stonestreet Estate Chardonnay 2018

Alexander Valley, California

Wine & Spirits 93 points! Vinous 93 points! Decanter 94 points! Wine Enthusiast 94 points!

Fermented and aged in French oak barrels, our single-vineyard Chardonnays obtain additional complexity and richness from wild yeast and full malolactic fermentation.

High above California’s Alexander Valley stand the towering Mayacamas Mountains, home to Stonestreet’s rugged Alexander Mountain Estate. This epic, untamed landscape is both challenging and rewarding when it comes to growing grapes. Here, we are truly a guest of nature, subject to both its bounty and its whims, which serve as a constant reminder that we are merely custodians to this remarkable place. Alexander Mountain Estate stands as the largest and one of the most extensive mountain vineyards in the world. Towering high above the Alexander Valley, Alexander Mountain Estate defies all previous conceptions of winegrowing-235 separate vineyard blocks are aligned in every imaginable spot on the compass, with peaks, valleys and ridges creating a broad spectrum of varied facings and elevations. Yet only a fifth of the 5,100-acre estate is planted to wine grapes.

As a blend of our best Chardonnay vineyard sites, the Estate bottling is one of the most compelling illustrations of the mountain. We blend this wine with shrewd precision, balancing aromatic intrigue, texture and the Mayacamas’ signature structural elements into a pure reflection of the vintage. The 2018 Estate Chardonnay exhibits notes of caramel apple and pineapple upside down cake with subtle salinity. The rich and round palate is highlighted by fresh tropical fruits, salted caramel, and a clean inviting finish.

“This wine gets its cool tones from the high altitudes at the Jackson family’s Alexander Mountain Estate, a 5,500-acre property on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. Lisa Valtenbergs builds the blend from a range of parcels, at elevations from 400 to 1,800 feet. While the texture is soft and mellow, the wine sustains a crisp green freshness and bright undertones of lemon. Satisfying to drink on its own, this will readily take on soft-shell crabs or other rich shellfish.”— Wine & Spirits, 93 points!

Enjoy Stonestreet Estate Chardonnay with roast chicken, grilled swordfish, and rich vegetarian dishes.