Stonestreet, Gravel Bench Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

While in the latter stages of its life, this effort still retains an acidic backbone (acidity doesn’t vanish like fruit or tannin, folks) with the fruit ever-so-slightly lingering on the the overall framework. The wine still possesses an admirable amount of integrity, yet I would make the effort to explore any remaining bottles within the next 2-3 years. The acidity will still remain intact in terms of structure, but the fruit will slowly diminish during this shrinking window.

2008 vintage

Really good color and nose of fruit, good balance and aging well. Time to drink up.

2009 vintage

Loved this 7 years ago. Some of the same virtues as then but now it is getting very tired. Well past it’s drinking time.

2008 vintage

Time to drink now. It has lost some of the acidity in the finish it used to have. Still really good. Notes of lemon and cream.

2008 vintage

Golden straw in color. The fruit components of the taste (primarily apple) have moved into the background; butterscotch, vanilla and oak toast are more prevalent at this stage. A very nice example of a mature CA chard, a wine that probably should be consumed in 2016.

2008 vintage

Drinking well, golden hay color, good acidity

2008 vintage

just outstanding. the weight on the palate is amazing and the fruit is very explosive surrounded by a great mineral backbone.

2009 vintage

still a great wine. acidity is holding up but the viscosity is thinning somewhat. lots of pleasant fruit notes with a decent finish length

2009 vintage

Good nose, a bit linear, nice color.

2009 vintage

consistent with previous btls

2009 vintage

Consumed over two days (vacuvined), note from day 2. Nose: Medium-plus expressiveness, meyer lemon, licorice, butterscotch, and acacia. Palate: Medium bodied, creamy mouth-feel, citrus fruit attack, a great spicy acidic kick thru the mid-palate combines with the citrus attack building in intensity thru the back-end where licorice and minerals join in the party. Finish: Lengthy sense of all that palate goodness which lingers for 30 - 45 seconds. Truly an outstanding wine.

2008 vintage

The oak is taking over the flavor profile, and the fruit is starting to fade. Drink up.

2008 vintage

continues to be an awesome wine. i doubt it gets better though. drink up!

2008 vintage

this is just a great example of chardonnay. just a touch of oak, great acidity and wonderful integration.

2008 vintage

Decent chard, but still a bit too much oak for my taste. Medium-full body. good finish. Lacked the definition and complexity to score higher. Drink now-2016

2008 vintage

consistent and great

2008 vintage

light golden in color. herbal, citrus, floral, on the nose. floral, orange, mineral, lime peel, toast, on the palate. medium acid on the finish.

2008 vintage

90 pts is not a knock - that's still an A, right?! Other reviewers seem to have this very high - surprisingly so. Golden color. Lemongrass and butterscotch on the nose. Round, buttery, oaky fruit on the palate. Enjoyable - on its own, or with sushi tonight - even cracking the 'excellent' grade but, just barely.

2008 vintage

consistent with the other bottles. an amazingly enjoyable wine. so many flavours and such a great wiehgt on the palate. just like drinking liquid silk

2008 vintage

Honey, mineral, some kind of spice (star anise?) on the nose. Lovely, supple palate, adding a bit of lemon to the mix. Good structure, alcohol heat on the *very* long finish, again with that mysterious spice.

2008 vintage

Superb. Cannot seem to find any 2008 so bought 4 bottles of the 2009. Will see how it compares to the 2008. (if anyone knows where to some 2008 please post.)

2008 vintage

and another one bites the dust................

2008 vintage

wow! wow! wow!, this wine continues to impress, just so rounded and full bodied without being heavy. loads of fruit with a hint of aok and a finish of caramel.

2008 vintage

as good as the last one and even a bit better! just such a great pkg.

2008 vintage

This was nowhere near as pleasurable as the previous bottle. Out of the cellar, it showed heat. It took a day to settle down, but still has a blurry, dense thing on the back end. This may reflect that this is a structured wine closing down. Towards the end of the bottle on day 2, it is performing more like bottle #1, very good length and a lovely mineral shimmer off the nose. Recommend decanting.

2008 vintage

wow wow wow, just an explosion of light fruits and perfume on the nose with a mineral back bone. a great silky texture on the palate with a hint of caramel. Def oak on the finish but not overly powerul. A very nice wine

2008 vintage

If you'd like to have a refined Sonoma Chard, then this is it. Not overoaked and with plenty of elegance.

2008 vintage

Served initally too cold. Flinty, and as it warmed up, lots of fruit and perfumed scents.

2008 vintage

Enjoyed on vacation in Costa Rica. No formal note taken, just scored.

2008 vintage

Light gold. Nose of white fruits, minerals and spices opened substantially as the wine warmed to room temperature over the course of three hours. Relatively tightly wound but opened on the palate with temperature and time. Notes of caramel and hints of exotic fruit together with pleasing minerality. Medium to long finish with notes of resin.

2008 vintage

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Stonestreet, Gravel Bench Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

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