Sphaerics 'If and only if' Upper Barn Vineyard Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, USA 2024 1.5L

Sphaerics is a small production California winery founded in 2022 by winemaking duo Brian Ball and Laura Jones (Aubert/Rousseau), focused on limited-release Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top cool climate vineyard sites in Napa and Sonoma. The project emphasizes a Burgundian inspired approach, using careful vineyard sourcing, native fermentations, and long elevage to highlight purity, texture, and site expression rather than overt richness. Production is extremely limited, with each wine released in only a few hundred cases. Overline and On Days and Nights have quickly gained attention for their balance of California fruit intensity with fine structure, acidity, and mineral drive.

“If and Only If” Chardonnay 2024, Alexander Valley is a limited-production, site-driven Chardonnay that represents the richer, more generous side of the Sphaerics portfolio while maintaining its hallmark precision. Sourced from a warmer Alexander Valley site, the 2024 vintage opens with layered aromas of golden apple, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, and white peach, accented by chamomile, toasted brioche, and delicate baking spice. The palate is textural and expansive, showing a round, mouth-filling core of fruit balanced by fresh acidity that prevents any sense of heaviness. Subtle oak influence adds depth and spice, while a underlying mineral thread brings lift and definition through the finish.

"The 2024 Chardonnay If And Only If is pliant, yielding and extremely generous today. Showing slightly less phenolic/mineral intensity and a notably softer build than the 2023 tasted alongside, the 2024 impresses for its roundness and approachability as it emanates layers of floral-infused citrus fruit, marzipan and ripe apricot. A worthy follow-up to the 2023." Vinous 94-96