2014 Chardonnay Red Point

Winemaker Lisa Valtenbergs has done a terrific job with these new releases from Stonestreet. The 2014 Chardonnays, essentially essays into the unique characteristics of various blocks on the property, are more than worthy follow ups to the 2013s, while the 2013 Cabernets show once again just how special this vintage is. As always, both the Chardonnays and Cabernets are big, structured wines endowed with considerable mountain character. Even though Stonestreet is part of the Jackson Family's empire, these wines seldom receive the attention they deserve. My only real critique is with some of the higher-end reds, which are at times overdone. In my view, bigger is not necessarily better, especially when dealing with mountain tannin, acidity and structure, all of which these sites have in abundance.