Not even close to as waxy and variant as the bottles I tasted at the winery (makes you wonder). This was a bit more restrained, just a tad gold, and came across as moderately aged. Mild complexity. Imo, good on its own, but certainly not worth $200ish price tag at the winery, unless you're in it for the memories.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second bottle was brighter and fresher. Dried flowers, yellow fruit, and fairly waxy on the palate. Still pretty one-noted, but tasty to drink. Doesn't have the acid/spine for long term aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty heavily oxidized. Sauternes-like nose, dry on the palate, waxier in texture. Extremely simple on the palate, but given the condition, not too surprised.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle of ‘05. Bright gold color. Nose initially says “aged California chardonnay” and seems a bit flabby; with some air, it comes around to pears and butterscotch. Taste is quite “hot” but also has lime rind quality that is nice. Definitely seen better days but overall I’m impressed that it held so long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light weight, some butterscotch and citrus. Tastes much hotter from alcohol than the indicated 13%. Has aged well, tasting fresh. Can age longer, but probably won’t improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly neutral. Good pale color. No hint of oxidation but too simple in overall characteristics to be of great interest. Probably better younger. The fruit has retreated but not much has come to replace it. Still healthy but not too interesting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an elegant and utterly terrific chardonnay. The malo is blocked so the wine retains acidity, it's judiciously oaked, and the minerality here is both elegant and vivacious. It's nearly the equal of the best Macon-Villages I've had. But I can get that Macon-Villages for a tick over $20 retail, and this costs over $35, so no matter how gratified I am to see that Napa can be the source of much better chardonnay than I ever assumed, I'm afraid I'll have to stick with the Macon over the long term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an elegant wine much in the traditions of a Chablis. Its an anti Calif Chard. No butter tastes and very very little oak taste. The purity of the fruit shows through with enough acid to make it really refreshing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant and well made, this is an ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) drinker’s Chardonnay – very reminiscent of a Chablis from the northern reaches of Burgundy or a very complex Poilly Fuisse from the southern reaches of Burgundy. Stony Hill happens to be the longest running commercial winery in the Napa Valley since they are the first new winery after prohibition. The McCrea family were true visionaries - way ahead of their time in planting Burgundy varietals in the Napa Valley. Even today the McCrea’s vision remains ahead of its time as their style of wine is fast becoming the preference for wine drinkers the world round that are tired of the flabby, over-oaked, sweet butter bomb Chardonnays. But if you drink White Burgundy now and always have, you know exactly what style I am talking about.
Color: Light gold, green flecks on the edges
Nose: Slate, minerals, crispy granny smith apples and warm pear.
Palate/Finish: I almost feel like we opened it too soon and should have let it age and mellow some more. This wine was UBER complex, yet super light on its feet. Like a riverbed of slate and pebbly rocks, the palate was mineral driven, with very crisp lemon and fresh, yet gripping granny smith apples. The finish was crisp, dry and razor like in its bracing acidity! We had this wine with the wrong food, grilled thick pork chops with grilled peaches, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar, pine nuts and red onion. The wine was too elegant and was screaming for a Sole Meunière. It was still enjoyable, but I saved more of the wine for after dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/4/2022 - Satoshi Nakamoto Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not even close to as waxy and variant as the bottles I tasted at the winery (makes you wonder). This was a bit more restrained, just a tad gold, and came across as moderately aged. Mild complexity. Imo, good on its own, but certainly not worth $200ish price tag at the winery, unless you're in it for the memories.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2022 - Satoshi Nakamoto wrote: 89 Points
Second bottle was brighter and fresher. Dried flowers, yellow fruit, and fairly waxy on the palate. Still pretty one-noted, but tasty to drink. Doesn't have the acid/spine for long term aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2022 - Satoshi Nakamoto wrote: 88 Points
Pretty heavily oxidized. Sauternes-like nose, dry on the palate, waxier in texture. Extremely simple on the palate, but given the condition, not too surprised.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2020 - SeattleKen Likes this wine:
My last bottle of ‘05. Bright gold color. Nose initially says “aged California chardonnay” and seems a bit flabby; with some air, it comes around to pears and butterscotch. Taste is quite “hot” but also has lime rind quality that is nice. Definitely seen better days but overall I’m impressed that it held so long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2018 - barrytaylor Likes this wine: 88 Points
should have been drunk a few yrs ago, but with a little air came around. not the wine for people who need crisp young chards
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2017 - Lipsman wrote: 87 Points
Light weight, some butterscotch and citrus. Tastes much hotter from alcohol than the indicated 13%. Has aged well, tasting fresh. Can age longer, but probably won’t improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - Wineteacher wrote: 86 Points
Fairly neutral. Good pale color. No hint of oxidation but too simple in overall characteristics to be of great interest. Probably better younger. The fruit has retreated but not much has come to replace it. Still healthy but not too interesting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2016 - barrytaylor Likes this wine: 95 Points
strawcolor. very nice will improve for several years. typical of a 10 year old Stony Hill.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2012 - sdwineguru wrote: 91 Points
Sharp mid-gold green; honey, oaky, Chardonnay nose; typical of older Stony Hill; mid-body, soft, rounded, good flavor, moving toward the delicate side with softening acids; nice finish. w/sea bass and light buerre blanc sauce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2011 - sdwineguru wrote: 90 Points
Mid-gold; classic Stony Hill nose, Chardonnay, honey, light herbaceousness; mid-body, balanced but softening. Good flavor and finish. w/swordfish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2011 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic Stony Hill nose (honey, light oak, clean Chardonnay fruit); mid-body; decent acids. w/swordfish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2010 - Wicker Parker wrote:
This is an elegant and utterly terrific chardonnay. The malo is blocked so the wine retains acidity, it's judiciously oaked, and the minerality here is both elegant and vivacious. It's nearly the equal of the best Macon-Villages I've had. But I can get that Macon-Villages for a tick over $20 retail, and this costs over $35, so no matter how gratified I am to see that Napa can be the source of much better chardonnay than I ever assumed, I'm afraid I'll have to stick with the Macon over the long term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2009 - geneswine wrote: 91 Points
This is an elegant wine much in the traditions of a Chablis. Its an anti Calif Chard. No butter tastes and very very little oak taste. The purity of the fruit shows through with enough acid to make it really refreshing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2008 - rjoyer wrote: 88 Points
Very lean, acidic and nice. Not overly complex, however. Would like to revisit in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2008 - tkoby11 wrote: 91 Points
Elegant and well made, this is an ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) drinker’s Chardonnay – very reminiscent of a Chablis from the northern reaches of Burgundy or a very complex Poilly Fuisse from the southern reaches of Burgundy. Stony Hill happens to be the longest running commercial winery in the Napa Valley since they are the first new winery after prohibition. The McCrea family were true visionaries - way ahead of their time in planting Burgundy varietals in the Napa Valley. Even today the McCrea’s vision remains ahead of its time as their style of wine is fast becoming the preference for wine drinkers the world round that are tired of the flabby, over-oaked, sweet butter bomb Chardonnays. But if you drink White Burgundy now and always have, you know exactly what style I am talking about.
Color: Light gold, green flecks on the edges
Nose: Slate, minerals, crispy granny smith apples and warm pear.
Palate/Finish: I almost feel like we opened it too soon and should have let it age and mellow some more. This wine was UBER complex, yet super light on its feet. Like a riverbed of slate and pebbly rocks, the palate was mineral driven, with very crisp lemon and fresh, yet gripping granny smith apples. The finish was crisp, dry and razor like in its bracing acidity!
We had this wine with the wrong food, grilled thick pork chops with grilled peaches, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar, pine nuts and red onion. The wine was too elegant and was screaming for a Sole Meunière. It was still enjoyable, but I saved more of the wine for after dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2008 - Pave2112 wrote: 89 Points
Still young for this wine - complex - vanilla flavors - high acidity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment