Every bit as good is the 2008 Chardonnay Broken Road. Abundant gravelly/mineral-like notes intermixed with tropical fruit, oranges, and other stone fruits as well as quince and mango emerge from this elegant, crisp offering. It may be slightly less full-bodied than the Red Point, but that’s splitting hairs at this level of quality. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted. Kudos to proprietor Jess Jackson and winemakers Graham Weerts and Marcia Monahan for exploiting this high elevation terroir. This has been a work-in-progress for Jackson, and he has finally hit paydirt with the following wines. Readers need to pay close attention as there are some amazing Chardonnays as well as red wines emerging from Stonestreet. There are seven distinctive cuvees of Chardonnay, ranging in production from 185 cases of Red Point, to 660 cases of Lower Rim. All of these super-impressive efforts come from elevations of 900 to 1,800 feet. I tasted one Merlot and seven Cabernet Sauvignons, and as readers can tell, these are also impressive wines. Production ranges from approximately 250 cases of the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons (the only exception being the 5,000-case cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon Monument Ridge). Tel. (800) 355-8008; Fax (707) 433-9469

This is an intense, nervy Chardonnay, rich in acids and minerals that offer a tang to the palate. It’s also dazzlingly rich, with complex flavors of pineapples, honeysuckle and buttered toast. Shows extraordinary concentration throughout the long, spicy finish. ——S.H.(10/1/2010)—— 95