The warm Russian River days show through the rich mid-palate of this wine. However, there is also a lovely mineral sense, courtesy of the steep rocky soil found in its vineyard. With 11 months in 60% new oak, the result is a robust, yet still elegant expression with notes of white flower, musk, lemon oil, and green apple. If you love Russian River, this is a must-try.

New Releases from Chardonnay Icon Sphaerics
It’s no secret that Sphaerics Chardonnay by Laura Jones and Brian Ball was one of our top debut releases last year. Laura, formerly Aubert’s winemaker and currently Skipstone’s, and Brian, the GM of Skipstone, began the Sphaerics label when they accessed fruit from the best parcel in Alexander Valley’s Upper Barn Vineyard to produce their ‘If and Only If’ Chardonnay. This specific section of the historic vineyard, untouched by replanting, boasts original vines that once supplied Marcassin and Peter Michael in the 1990s. Their winemaking approach mirrors that of classic Burgundy estates, employing whole-cluster pressing, native yeast fermentation, and a slow, cool fermentation process.

In the 2023 vintage, they added single-vineyard Chardonnays from Carneros and Russian River Valley. Following their stellar 2022 debut, we expected greatness, but each wine’s distinct character exceeded expectations. A masterclass in terroir, these wines are both precise and irresistibly drinkable— ones we’d love to enjoy every day.