The 2022 “if and only if” Chardonnay opens with captivating aromas of pain grille?, lemon meringue, beeswax, and white stone fruits punctuated by alluring accents of sea spray, crushed stone, and all spice. The palate is a saturating elixir of nectarine and citrus oils with notes of dried white flower, citrus zest, and saline that finishes impressively long and complex. This is an elegant, dynamic, textural wine that has the vivacity to drink well for years to come. 

The Next Cult Classic Chardonnay
We finally had the opportunity to sit down and taste one of our most anticipated wines of the year—Sphaerics Chardonnay. While California is home to many exceptional Chardonnays, only a select few can be considered truly iconic. Among these are legendary producers like Marcassin and Aubert, the latter of which is where Laura Jones, the winemaker behind Sphaerics, refined her craft and developed her keen intuition for Chardonnay. When we learned that Laura had started her own project with her husband, Brian Ball, General Manager of Skipstone Winery, we knew it was something to watch closely.

A skilled winemaker is essential, but exceptional wine can only be crafted from exceptional land. This crucial piece of the puzzle came together when Laura and Brian secured access to the renowned Upper Barn parcels of Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard. These vines, planted in 1982, were used in the iconic bottlings of Marcassin and Peter Michael during the 1990s.

Sphaerics was barrel fermented in 70% new French oak followed by 11 months in barrel and an additional 5 months in stainless steel. However, you know you're experiencing a nearly transcendental wine when classic technical questions, such as the type of oak used, don't even come to mind. The inaugural release of Sphaerics is a wine that hardly seems to need tasting notes. It is so complex and yet so simple in how richly satisfying it is. Simply put, this is everything you want in California Chardonnay. Period.