2022 Reviews
Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate - Sphaerics – New Star Rising
I first encountered Sphaerics as a barrel sample of 2022 Chardonnay. A lot of wines come across my desk, but this one immediately stood out.
2022 Sphaerics “if and only if” Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard Alexander Valley
97 points
The 2022 Chardonnay If And Only If is the first release from Sphaerics. Although this information doesn't appear on the label until the 2023 vintage, it comes from the Jackson Family Wines Upper Barn Vineyard—the original parcel of Wente selection planted on AXR rootstock in 1982 on the company's Alexander Mountain Estate. Vines are widely spaced and sit at 1,800 feet in elevation. Historically, this fruit was sold to Marcassin and Peter Michael, but in 2010, it was allocated to Jackson Family Wines' Stonestreet property; this is the first time since then that it has been offered to another winery. The grapes were harvested on September 5, just before the intense Labor Day heat wave. The wine was barrel fermented and underwent full malolactic conversion. It was matured for 11 months in 70% new oak plus an additional five months in stainless steel and bottled in January of 2024. The nose is very pretty and complex: white peach and lemon peel are complemented by nuances of matchstick and glossy new oak. The full-bodied palate is explosive. It reveals layer after layer of stone and tropical fruit. Its luxurious, silky texture is foiled by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a very long, dynamic finish. It’s incredibly expressive straight from the bottle but offers the concentration and structural balance to mature in the cellar for at least a decade. 202 cases were made.
Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate – 2023 Sonoma County Winter Releases
2022 Sphaerics “if and only if” Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard Alexander Valley
94-96 points
Set to launch in early 2024, Sphaerics is a new label from Laura Jones, formerly assistant winemaker at Aubert, and her husband, Brian Ball, general manager at Skiptone. In 2022, the couple was offered Chardonnay from the Upper Barn Vineyard, planted in 1982 and located at Jackson Family Wines' (JFW) Alexander Mountain Estate. In the past, this old-vine fruit was sourced by Marcassin and Peter Michael and has been used exclusively for JFW's Stonestreet label for more than a decade. The 2022 Chardonnay is the only SKU the couple has crafted so far, although they used two additional vineyard sources in 2023. I tasted the wine from tank in late November of 2023, shortly before its scheduled bottling in January of 2024. The 2022 Chardonnay If And Only If is a tank sample of the inaugural release from Sphaerics, tasted on November 27, 2023 and due to be bottled in January 2024. Grapes come from Jackson Family Wines' Alexander Mountain Estate, and this first vintage is exclusively sourced from the Upper Barn Vineyard, planted in 1982. Harvested September 5, it was barrel fermented in 70% new French oak, underwent full malolactic conversion and matured 11 months in barrel and an additional five months in stainless steel. It has alluring scents of toasty brioche, meringue and nutmeg with top notes of lemon confit, saline and chalk. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and expansive, its deep, candied citrus and white peach fruit working in tandem with a satiny texture to envelop the mouth. It features well-integrated new oak character, just enough flintiness to add complexity and a long finish with dynamic flavors. It's a beautiful pairing of tang and vibrancy with sunny California fruit. Just 210 cases were made.
Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com - Current Releases from Sonoma with a Focus on 2022
Some of the highlights from my tastings included a few welcome surprises, beginning with the first release from Sphaerics, a new endeavor for Laura Jones, the former assistant winemaker at Aubert, and her husband, Brian Ball of Skipstone. Their sole release of Chardonnay stopped me in my tracks, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store moving forward.
2022 Sphaerics “if and only if” Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard Alexander Valley
95 points
The 2022 Chardonnay If And Only If comes from the Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard and pours a bright medium yellow color. It’s lifted and ripe, with a touch of flinty reduction, as well as notes of golden apples, baking spice, honeyed citrus, and poached pear. Full-bodied, it retains good freshness in its ripe, generous style, with a supple, rounded mouthfeel, a pleasing waxy texture, notes of hazelnut, and a long and mouthwatering, saline finish. This opulent but well-balanced wine has a lot to offer and should drink well over the next 8-10 years.
The 2022 was the inaugural vintage and sole bottling for Sphaerics founders Brian Ball of Skipstone and his wife Laura Jones, who is the winemaker. (Laura was assistant winemaker at Aubert from 2017-2022.) I was highly impressed with this rich, textural Chardonnay and encourage readers who enjoy the style of Aubert to check this wine out.
Owen Bargreen – 2024 Sonoma Report
A new winery, Sphaerics, led by Laura Jones (formerly with Aubert) has a super compelling 2022 Sphaerics ‘If and only if’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which also comes from the Upper Barn. The wine is an amazing achievement in this hot vintage. Dense and very heady, this is another new brand to watch for.
2022 Sphaerics “if and only if” Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard Alexander Valley
96 points, #52 on Top 100 wines of 2024
Coming from the Upper Barn Vineyard, this is an inaugural release by winemaker Laura Jones, formerly Aubert’s assistant winemaker. A brilliant golden hue in the glass, this really needs about 20 minutes of air to fully be aroused. The nose is gorgeous with toasty oak and brioche tones that mingle well with Meyer lemon cream and shades of wild mushroom. The palate is plush and silky smooth with a beautiful sense of texture and underlying verve. A seamless Chardonnay with no rough edges, consume this stunner now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034.
Billy Norris, Vinous - January 2026
2022 Sphaerics “if and only if” Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard Alexander Valley
94 points
The 2022 Chardonnay If And Only If comes from the Jackson Family's Upper Barn Vineyard. It’s a rich, layered wine built on a mass of textural intrigue. Apricot, chamomile, rich toasted spices and chalk flesh out with real focus and such beautiful polish. The 2022 is a wine of exquisite polish and impressive length. The creamy mid-palate and finish are so enticing. A thread of ultra-fine acidity pulls through from start to finish, keeping things upright and motivated.