Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) Chardonnay 2016

 I seldom — come to think of it never — open a $125 bottle of wine just for myself, but these trying times can make some of us do unusual things.  And so, after chilling the wine, I took a deep breath, popped the cork and poured myself a glass of Stonestreet’s “Upper Barn” Chardonnay.  One whiff of the cherry-blossom charged perfume and I was hooked.  The haunting flavors (guava, ripe fresh fig, pear, lime zest), underpinned by a shimmer of minerality, provided sheer delight, as did this Chardonnay’s perfectly balanced and elegant texture.  On the second night the wine was just as fresh and flavorful.  Solo drinking may not be the best way to enjoy a bottle of superior wine, but am I sorry I opened it?  Not at all.