Winemaker Notes
As a blend of Stonestreet's best Chardonnay vineyard sites, the Estate bottling is always one of the most compelling illustrations of their mountain estate. This wine is blended with discerning precision, balancing aromatic intrigue, texture and the Mayacamas' signature structural elements into a pure reflection of the vintage. The 2020 Estate Chardonnay presents with notes of pear and crusty brioche with subtle ginger flower. The palate is full with dense fruit flavors of honeydew melon highlighted by ginger and caramel green apple with a foundation of minerality and lingering acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Matured for 10 months in 35% new French oak, the 2020 Chardonnay Estate opens with savory undertones and flinty streaks before giving way to a core of white peach, panna cotta and allspice. The palate is ripe, concentrated and mouth-coating, although its lively acidity creates balance. It ends with an expansive, savory finish. Drink it over the next 5-8 years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the still whites, the vibrant yellow 2020 Chardonnay Estate has expressive herbal aromas, as well as notes of grapefruit, hops, sage, and white flowers. Full-bodied, with an elegant, supple texture and silky, floral notes of honeysuckle, melon, and vanilla on the palate, it’s an attractive wine to drink over the next few years.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.