2021 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Alexander Valley 750 ml

There’s no substitute for terroir, and Stuhlmuller Vineyards sits in one of the most coveted sections of Alexander Valley.

Just five minutes down the road from Jordan Vineyards, the winery is making exemplary Chardonnay—the kind that usually goes for $40 or more. But because they’re one of the best-kept secrets in Sonoma, their Estate Chardonnay offers UNHEARD-OF value.

Stuhlmuller vineyard enjoys a special combination of river benchland gravels and very rocky hillsides—a perfect habitat for vines. Owner Fritz Stuhlmuller still sells a significant portion of his grapes, but keeps the best share for his winery, and he’s picky—only about a third of the Chardonnay he grows made it into this wine.

In the fantastic 2021 vintage, winemaker Zac Childers—who earned his stripes at Torbreck, Alderbrook, and J Vineyard—shepherded those select grapes with a deft ease. It was entirely fermented in barrel with native yeasts, a labor-intensive, somewhat risky step that rewards attentive winemakers with more complexity in bottle, before nine full months aging on fine lees in those same casks.

Those are techniques you’d expect to find at nearby wineries like Jordan and Stonestreet—whose wines are twice as expensive as Stuhlmuller. With a beautiful nose of wet rocks, floral tones, and a big wallop of lemon curd, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were taking in a $50 wine after you poured this. On the palate, there’s plenty of richness and body, but also a classy elegance that keeps it light on its feet and demands another sip: This is pure Alexander Valley terroir.

Stuhlmuller’s Cabernet has become a legitimate sensation among our members for the outrageous value it provides—and their Chardonnay offers the same proposition.