Deep yellow color; yellow apple, lemon zest on the nose; yellow apple, pineapple, pear, Meyer lemon, buttery pastry, caramel, oak, and oak spice on the palate.
Dry; bold, oaky, buttery style of chardonnay. Soft acidity. Ripe fruits give is some sense of butterscotch sweetness. Medium-plus body with a slightly oily texture. Clean, crisp, balanced. Refreshing, lingering finish. Reflects Mayacamas Black Mountain terroir. 14.1% ABV
Jess Stonestreet Jackson and Barbara Banke established the estate in 1995. Christopher Stonestreet Jackson and his wife Ariel run the operation today. The middle name “Stonestreet” has been passed down three generations. Lisa Valtenbergs is the winemaker. Fermented in upright French oak tanks to tame tannins. Native yeasts. The wine spent 11 months in 33% new French oak.
The website notes: “Stonestreet is one of the most expansive and multi-faceted mountain vineyards in the world and produces a distinctive collection of single vineyard wines — powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, soulful Chardonnay and electric Sauvignon Blanc.
“The Jackson family acts as stewards of the land, caring for this 5,500 acre mountain estate that towers high above the Alexander Valley in the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Ranging 400ft to 2,400ft in elevation, the estate showcases a dramatic array of mesoclimates on peaks, valleys and ledges. The geological diversity of the mountain, which contains more soil types than all of France, confers a strong mineral characteristic in the fruit, while the challenges of farming at elevation produce smaller, more concentrated berry clusters.”
Sustainability is important at Stonestreet. They received the Green Company of the Year award from Drinks Business in 2020 and the Green Power Leadership Award in 2018. All Stonestreet vineyards were certified sustainable in practice by the third-party program in 2011 and all vineyards received California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing certification in 2010.
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Alexander Valley 2017 is rich and gracious with its ripe fruit and oak-driven approach. Refined version of classic, opulent California-style chard from the justly storied Jackson family. Pair with pork; rich fish—salmon, tuna; poultry, including fried chicken; vegetarian fare. Cheese—camembert, aged gruyere, aged cheddar, gouda, blue cheese; semi-hard cheeses. A buttery chardonnay is a very versatile wine-cheese pairing, but avoid pungent, spicy, acidic cheeses. $32-45
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards website
