Nearly as awesome is the 2007 Chardonnay Broken Road and 2007 Chardonnay Red Point, both lighter versions of the Upper Barn. Stonestreet is becoming an excellent source for small lots of Chardonnay, although the basic Alexander Valley cuvee is very plentiful (6,500 cases). The single vineyard offerings (between 120 and 350 cases produced of each) are impressive efforts that are more similar than dissimilar since they all come from single vineyard lots, are aged in 50% new French oak (except for the Gravel Bench), and spend 11 months on their lees before bottling. Tel. (800) 355-8008; Fax (707) 433-9469

Complex and concentrated, with intense flavors of tropical fruits, white peach, vanilla hazelnut fudge, buttered toast and smoke. An extraordinarily rich Chardonnay that could benefit from 4–6 years in the cellar. ——S.H.(12/1/2009)—— 92