93pts Vinous

The 2018 Chardonnay is bright and tense, but with striking texture as well as nuance. The blocked-malo style preserves quite a bit of energy, but there is a good deal of mid-palate pliancy and texture too. Lemon confit, sage, mint, almond and chamomile all grace this supple, racy Chardonnay from Stony Hill.

91pts Wine Spectator

There's intensity and purity to the core of green apple, lime and pear flavors in this distinctive version, with a sea salt backbone to the notes of makrut lime leaf, matcha green tea and fresh clipped herbs on the finish. Drink now. 1,100 cases made.

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Estate Chardonnay is an exciting young wine. As always, it is pale straw
in color. With scents of crushed rock and gentle spices, a world of flavor opens up
to mineral charged orchard fruit. It has energy and drive on the palate with a
backbone of acidity that is fleshed out by generous sweet spice with peach and apricot.

From the fine touch of our Stony Hill slopes, linear attributes are balanced by the
ripeness of fruit.

About the Winery

In 1943, Fred McCrea and his wife, Eleanor, stumbled onto a 168-acre plot of land
hidden away on the slopes of Spring Mountain, which they purchased and later named
Stony Hill Vineyard. With their love for French white wines combined with the ideal
growing conditions of their property, the McCreas built the first post-prohibition
winery in 1951 and released their inaugural vintage the following year. Stony Hill’s
terroir and climate mirrored that of Burgundy, made of volcanic mountain soil with a
limestone sub-layer and a northeast-facing hillside, making it perfect to craft their
preferred style of Chardonnay. Some would later refer to Stony Hill as “America’s
greatest white wine estate.”

In 2020 the Lawrence Family became the next family to own the historic estate. Under
the watchful eye of managing partner, Carlton McCoy Jr., Stony Hill has taken careful
steps to preserve its legacy in the Napa Valley, keeping the integrity of the land and
winemaking style intact. The estate vineyards continue to be farmed organically and
focus on sustainable vineyard cultivation, while careful attention is put forth to honor
the past and embrace the future of Stony Hill.

Grape Varietal: 100% Chardonnay