Sphaerics’ 2024 “If And Only If” is crafted from 100% Chardonnay, sourced from 40‑year‑old Wente‑clone vines planted at high elevation above Alexander Valley. Retail and critic descriptions highlight captivating aromas of lemon meringue, white stone fruits, crushed stone, and honeydew, with a palate described as a saturating elixir of citrus oils, dried white flowers, and saline, finishing long, complex, and impressively structured. The wine shows both weight and precision, with ripe fruit depth balanced by mineral tension and polished acidity. CellarTracker impressions reinforce this profile, noting white flowers, deep yellow stone fruit, beeswax, bitter lime skin, oily texture, and clean mineral lift, with tasters emphasizing its youthful concentration, layered detail, and significant aging potential.
Food pairings for this style of Alexander Valley Chardonnay align with its richness and mineral drive. Expert pairing guidance suggests it matches exceptionally well with pork, poultry, vegetarian dishes, and rich fish such as salmon or tuna, which complement its citrus‑oil texture and saline finish. The wine’s combination of ripe stone fruit, citrus zest, and subtle reduction also makes it a strong partner for buttery seafood, roasted chicken, mushroom dishes, and lightly spiced preparations, allowing both its depth and freshness to shine.
98pts Decanter
Sourced from the original 1982 plantings at Jackson Family Wines’ Upper Barn site within their Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard, this Chardonnay is planted to Wente Clone on AxR1 rootstock at 1,800 feet of elevation. The same parcel once contributed fruit to Marcassin’s Gauer Vineyard Upper Barn bottlings and Peter Michael’s Mon Plaisir during Mark Aubert’s tenure there in the 1990s and early 2000s, and has been used exclusively by Stonestreet since 2010. The wine was aged 11 months in 70% new French oak, followed by 5 months in stainless steel before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2024 vintage shows remarkable poise and clarity, defined by cool, crisp acidity and chiselled stony minerality. Fragrant white flowers lead into layers of lemon oil, lemon curd, candied ginger, quince, and warm brown spices. Each element is expressive and precise, with depth, purity, and impressive length. A deeply flavorful wine of tension and refinement; pure, delineated, and elegant. Sphaerics was founded in 2022 by Brian Ball and Laura Jones, a husband-and-wife team of wine industry veterans. The wines are made by Laura, who fine-tuned her Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winemaking skills during a 5-year tenure at Aubert and a stint at Domaine Armand Rousseau.
94-96pts Vinous
The 2024 Chardonnay If And Only If is pliant, yielding and extremely generous today. Showing slightly less phenolic/mineral intensity and a notably softer build than the 2023 tasted alongside, the 2024 impresses for its roundness and approachability as it emanates layers of floral-infused citrus fruit, marzipan and ripe apricot. A worthy follow-up to the 2023.
