Lots of stone fruit with sweet spice. Impressive density and power, even if a few years past its peak drinking window. Still drinking nicely, but nowhere near it’s performance from 5-10 years back.
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Had the Kistler Vine Hill 2002 (purchased from vineyard on release) with sauteed filet of sole. Complex, nuanced and very fine. Not overly hot, or oakey, lots of finesse. Remained on point for an hour with dinner, and was delightful.
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Rich fruit (but not as much as the '03 Hyde) that is sweet but has a touch of minerality - honeysuckle, lemon zest and almond are what comes to mind. Finish has a touch of caramel and vanilla but is not offputting at all. The fruit is kept in check by decent acidity. Perhaps fading a bit but still very delicious.
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Vibrant and fresh yellow gold colour. Nose is slightly sweet Granny Smith apples, ripe fresh banana, semi-toasted hazelnuts, sundried lemons, sandalwood smoke.....lots of dimensions. Palate is round, citrus-driven, honeyed roundness and great mouthfeel with a lean minerality on the back end. Overall, very poised and well balanced.....classic Kistler on the low end of its oak spectrum....light and bright with terroir emphasised rather than oak, wafts of sandalwood smoke, grilled bacon on the back end.....meaty and salty finish. Deep bass organ notes of resonance on the finish. Beautifully made and deeply satisfying. An excellent bottle that really sang tonight.
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I'm very happy to finally get this vintage with a great bottle, as I have had 3 prior bottles oxidized. Dark golden color with hint of oak, peachy and some citrus. Well balanced with a long finish.
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My last bottle of this, which I have tasted a couple times a year since release. Dark golden color and a somewhat reticent nose. But still showing some peach and citrus fruit on the palate, with a finish of nutty popcorn an caramel/vanilla oak. Still has decent acidity and may hold for a while but not likely to get better.
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Wine was slightly oxidized...a real disappointment due to the fact that it was stored in a wine cellar/fridge since purchasing from the vineyard. Maybe 8 years in bottle is too long for Kistler...I have had older w/ good success but this makes me a bit nervous.
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Seemed pretty tired at furst drink, but improved after a couple hours. Primary fruit has receded but still has minerals, nuts, and caramel corn. Zest and finishes with a touch of lemon.
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Wonderfully mature but still vibrant. Golden color. Perfect for the season because it is like biting into a caramel apple without anything getting stuck to your teeth. Touch of lemon pudding, tropical fruit bowl, and mineral notes too. This wine is like a classic book... I feel like each time I would revisit the glass, new complexities would emerge. Drink now, the time is right. It's really rare for me to score a wine this high, but this is incredible.
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A simply stunning chardonnay from Kistler and the best bottle I've had yet from 2002. Despite its 7 years of age, the colour is light yellow with a tinge of gold. The burnt matchstick of its youth is barely noticeable and the nose offers up scents of white fruits, some chalk and a smidge of caramel. The palate is rich, lush and long - featuring a creamy, citrusy mix. It is young and old at the same time and the two sides of the wine are well balanced right now. I think it is drinking as well as it ever will but is not in any danger of falling off too suddenly. Wow.
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Greenish gold in color; lovely rich nose of oak, almonds?. On the palate rich and intense without being heavy; not at all sweet although the fruit is clearly ripe, most likely the well integrated oak. And then an intense finish of vanilla and an almost salty quality, which seems more Burgundy than California. As good as the last bottle at most likely at its peak at age 7.
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Wow, this is an awesome chardonnay. These were purchased on release and stored perfectly. It's a very CA bottle of wine (no clue how RP think this is like a Batard) but it is superb. Toasted, oily, orange zest, tropical fruit, layered and layered and layered with good acidic punch at the finish. Drink it now. This is not getting any better. Kistlers fall off a cliff and are undrinkable when they get oxidized so don't waste this wine....friendly advice, drink it now.
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A bit past its best but still has lovely flavors of tropical fruit with limestone on the finish. Nicely complex and concetrated but better 2 years ago.
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My first Kistler was a 94 Vine Hill which had a marvelous "goes down like water" quality. This wine has excellent acidity and that same quality, with a lemon and mineral finish. This is much less extracted or better minerality from the vineyard than some of the other Kistler bottlings I have had. The balance on this wine is also almost perfect.
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My last bottle of this stunning wine. Light yellow in color. Aromas of cinnamon, stones, toasted brioche and a touch of tropical fruit. Rich but beautifully balanced, silky fruit in the mouth with great depth and length. Almost painful in its intensity, this wine was outstanding with foie gras with truffles as well as Iberico ham and various cheeses.
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An absolutely brilliant chardonnay not showing its six year age at all. Nose of marmalade, citrus, and minerality. There is some oak on the palate but it is well integrated and perfectly balanced.
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nose: nice rich nose of buttered toast, lemon custard, loads of other lemon tones, white florals, smoked apricots. Very pretty aromatics that have gotten lighter with air. very well balanced with a smooth elegance
taste: much lighter in body then previous Kistlers taht I've had. Silky tones of sweet tropical fruits, sweet lemons, lemon custard, bits of salt, white florals, and tart apricot tones
overall: A very elegant and pretty Kistler. Nice lifting nose that translates well on the palate. This is a chard that evokes thoughts of the classic hollywood beauties. A real class wine that struts its pedigree while having a coyness to it.
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This Kistler really improved with about 1 hour of aeration, blossoming to reveal notes of apricot, pineapple and exotic fruits along with honey. Lots of purity here with a good underlying structure and minerality
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14.1% alcohol. a superb wine, beautifully delineated, with clean lines, pure acid, and integrated oak that allows the minerality to shine. outstanding!
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This wine has everything - excellent orange tropical fruit, nice citrusy backbone. The nose is deep and penetrating, the mouth is balanced and rich and rich and rich, and the length is lingering - and rich. Lychees, light mangoes, light pepper everywhere.
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This wine sucks! If you have any of this in your cellar send it all to me and I'll make sure it is properly disposed of! Seriously - another fabulous example of white burgundy style chard made in good ole CA.
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Tight upon opening, taking about an hour to open. Nice aromatics showing chopped nuts and butterscotch. The palate is starting to show secondary flavors, but lacking an elegance a wine of this breed should have. Slightly heavy mouthfeel. Still has acidity left to age a bit more. The finish is not as long as I would have liked, turning slightly bitter on the end. All in all, this wine was not great.
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A really well made wine but not all my style. Thick and unctuous. The color was a hazey yellow/golden. The nose is a bit reductive with oatmeal, butterscotch and sweet pears. The wine was a bit hot for me, although good.
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Very nice but not nearly as expressive as I expected or hoped. Good intensity - some citrus and medium bodied. Only hints of oak that seem wonderfully integrated.
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Consistently great wine.Second bottle this week. did not disapoint. Drank with the Sullivans and extended family. Everyone raved about it. Among the "other wines" was an 84 BV Geo de Latour (Still excellent) '78 Louis Martini (quite nicei, '99 Verite La Joie (Fabulous-big and fruity), 01 Giugal D'Pape excellent, '85 Grirgich Hills Cab, '83 Jafflin Gevry Chambertin (cloudy, but good with a good nose of Barnyard, violets, but a bit on the light side, 97 Far Niente Chard (very good) and some other wines that were just o.k.(Vine cliff chard, Rombauer Zin and others.
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Good starting wine for the longest day of the year! Big, flavorful, citrusy, slightly oaky with vanilla flavors. A bit overpowering at first, but became more balanced after 15-20 minutes. Slight hint of matchsticks & butter.
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Still going strong and probably will evolve if not improve for at least a couple years. Crisp acidity and great complement of tropical fruit and complex secondary spice flavors.
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Golden yellow color, with an alluring nose of spices and grapefruit. The palate is rich and full with recurring grapefruit flavors and some oily minerality. Long finish. This was outclassed by the 01 Lafon Mersault Charmes.
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Opened up quite nice. At beginning, it had a bit of burnt caramel with peach and mango. After two hours it had much more balance with some lemon curd and citrus; burnt caramel blew off. Oily- you can't get that with the lesser chards. It was much better when warming up. When to cold, it became a bit closed. Can definetly go a few more years.
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Good acidity combined with nice fruit flavors of lime, mango and peach. Medium-bodied and finishes nicely concentrated with a minerally finish. Not aging as well as I would have hoped given that I rated it two or three points higher a years ago.
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Very good all around Chard... somewhat subdued aromas, with a lovely flavor combination of pit fruits, citrus, and stone, and with very nice finish, but it didn't blow me away with its depth of fruit. More subtle than I was expecting, and I wasn't into the dustyness so much. Probably should have waited. A great bottle of wine, not sure about the QPR.
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Medium yellow with slight green tinge. Full rich aroma of tight yellow fruit with hints of spice. Thick rich mouthfeel with good clean yellow fruit but a little tight. Needs time. 3/06
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I’m certainly not the world’s biggest chard fan, but this was a great way to start the night. Floral notes with hints of citrus and vanilla with a beautiful mouth feel.
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I have come to the conclusion that Vine Hill is one of the best chardonnay bottlings from Kistler. Yellow-green color. The nose is very rich with tuscan lemon and apricot. Very dense on the palate, the fruit wraps tightly around a solid mineral core. Citrus and pit fruit is predominant. Great persistence. A real joy to drink.
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With fresh trout. Lovely clear green hued yellow color. Typical kistler nose with oak and citrus. Citrus lemon peel and mineral. Clearly very young but with great promise. Guess I will have to pull out an 01.
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12/6/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Lots of stone fruit with sweet spice. Impressive density and power, even if a few years past its peak drinking window. Still drinking nicely, but nowhere near it’s performance from 5-10 years back.
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3/8/2018 - SKAHN2 Likes this wine:
Rich, but less so than expected for a 16 year old wine. Great with full flavored cheese (Rush Creek Reserve)
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8/28/2016 - DRK III Likes this wine: 91 Points
Malo, no noticeable oak, medium body, long finish. Nicely balanced. A little past prime, but still has freshness.
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8/27/2016 - DRK III wrote: flawed
Corked.
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7/8/2016 - Nothung Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was beautiful; other bottles have oxidized.
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12/20/2015 - R Z Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had the Kistler Vine Hill 2002 (purchased from vineyard on release) with sauteed filet of sole. Complex, nuanced and very fine. Not overly hot, or oakey, lots of finesse. Remained on point for an hour with dinner, and was delightful.
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11/5/2015 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
acidity beats oak tonight in this well aged voluptuous Cali Chard. I find it easier drinking and better with food at this point. Drink up
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7/3/2015 - WVWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Golden hue. Still fresh and wonderful. Followed by a 2013 aubert Ritchie vineyard and the similarities were amazing.
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3/9/2015 - alpha_ori Likes this wine: 90 Points
Interesting and pleasant when caught at the right temp. I'm a bit oak-sensitive, though; others may take to it better.
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9/20/2014 - Herb K wrote:
Wine was still holding up and elegant... I was pleasantly surprised, given that Vine Hill is my least favorite of the Kistler single vineyards...
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1/16/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 88 Points
light golden, in color. lemon, lemon oil, lime peel, match stick, river rock, spicy, on the nose. medium acid, on the finish.
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1/12/2013 - naimthattune wrote: 93 Points
Ready to drink
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12/6/2012 - M DU VIN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still holding on, but clearly time to drink up.
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10/27/2012 - Jww2314 wrote: 94 Points
Excellent Ca chard. Not too oaky. Very smooth.
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9/3/2012 - madeiradog wrote: 93 Points
Rich fruit (but not as much as the '03 Hyde) that is sweet but has a touch of minerality - honeysuckle, lemon zest and almond are what comes to mind. Finish has a touch of caramel and vanilla but is not offputting at all. The fruit is kept in check by decent acidity. Perhaps fading a bit but still very delicious.
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8/12/2012 - M DU VIN wrote: 92 Points
A wonderful, complex Chardonnay that is holding well. Nonetheless, time to drink up.
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2/17/2012 - NY Wino wrote: 85 Points
Over the hit hill...what bummer!
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12/15/2011 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Welcoming Craig C to DC - Marks duckhouse Part 1 (Marks duckhouse, Falls Church, Va): The oak blew off and showed nice ripe Californian fruit. Light caramel, baked apple, mostly yellow fruits but not too tropical. Not a bad showing.
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8/6/2011 - Goldstone wrote: 93 Points
Vibrant and fresh yellow gold colour. Nose is slightly sweet Granny Smith apples, ripe fresh banana, semi-toasted hazelnuts, sundried lemons, sandalwood smoke.....lots of dimensions. Palate is round, citrus-driven, honeyed roundness and great mouthfeel with a lean minerality on the back end. Overall, very poised and well balanced.....classic Kistler on the low end of its oak spectrum....light and bright with terroir emphasised rather than oak, wafts of sandalwood smoke, grilled bacon on the back end.....meaty and salty finish. Deep bass organ notes of resonance on the finish. Beautifully made and deeply satisfying. An excellent bottle that really sang tonight.
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5/3/2011 - AtoZ wrote: 93 Points
Still drinkable. Surprising.
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4/10/2011 - ronaldo wrote: 92 Points
I'm very happy to finally get this vintage with a great bottle, as I have had 3 prior bottles oxidized. Dark golden color with hint of oak, peachy and some citrus.
Well balanced with a long finish.
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3/19/2011 - dd wrote:
drink now
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2/21/2011 - ronaldo wrote: 91 Points
Finally! A bottle of 2002 that was NOT oxidized! Citrus and pear, creamy with some acidity. Probably at it's peak.
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2/13/2011 - MJTed wrote: 91 Points
My last bottle of this, which I have tasted a couple times a year since release. Dark golden color and a somewhat reticent nose. But still showing some peach and citrus fruit on the palate, with a finish of nutty popcorn an caramel/vanilla oak. Still has decent acidity and may hold for a while but not likely to get better.
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11/13/2010 - Olio wrote: 99 Points
Bright citrus, really well balanced, not overly oaky, outstanding
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9/19/2010 - Mr. Muga wrote: 94 Points
Drank at Palena for my 50th birthday dinner with the Wine Guys and spouses. Tasting notes to follow.
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9/12/2010 - madeiradog wrote: 93 Points
Drank with clients so no formal notes but oak was well-integrated and wine was delicious. No oxidation detected in this bottle.
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8/16/2010 - NY Wino wrote: flawed
Wine was slightly oxidized...a real disappointment due to the fact that it was stored in a wine cellar/fridge since purchasing from the vineyard. Maybe 8 years in bottle is too long for Kistler...I have had older w/ good success but this makes me a bit nervous.
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3/16/2010 - JDRFoster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Prominent citrus and tropicl fruit with prominent minerality, and an exellent medium-long finish, this Kistler showed very well. 92-94
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1/28/2010 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
Seemed pretty tired at furst drink, but improved after a couple hours. Primary fruit has receded but still has minerals, nuts, and caramel corn. Zest and finishes with a touch of lemon.
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10/24/2009 - babnik wrote: 95 Points
Wonderfully mature but still vibrant. Golden color. Perfect for the season because it is like biting into a caramel apple without anything getting stuck to your teeth. Touch of lemon pudding, tropical fruit bowl, and mineral notes too. This wine is like a classic book... I feel like each time I would revisit the glass, new complexities would emerge. Drink now, the time is right. It's really rare for me to score a wine this high, but this is incredible.
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9/27/2009 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Peach, some ripe apple. Nicely floral and still very fresh with plenty of power, very good concentration, and still a lot in reserve. Very tasty.
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9/9/2009 - ken-yyz wrote: 94 Points
A simply stunning chardonnay from Kistler and the best bottle I've had yet from 2002. Despite its 7 years of age, the colour is light yellow with a tinge of gold. The burnt matchstick of its youth is barely noticeable and the nose offers up scents of white fruits, some chalk and a smidge of caramel. The palate is rich, lush and long - featuring a creamy, citrusy mix. It is young and old at the same time and the two sides of the wine are well balanced right now. I think it is drinking as well as it ever will but is not in any danger of falling off too suddenly. Wow.
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8/8/2009 - rosenst1 wrote: 93 Points
Greenish gold in color; lovely rich nose of oak, almonds?. On the palate rich and intense
without being heavy; not at all sweet although the fruit is clearly ripe, most likely the
well integrated oak. And then an intense finish of vanilla and an almost salty quality,
which seems more Burgundy than California. As good as the last bottle at most likely
at its peak at age 7.
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6/27/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points
CRISP FRUIT, CITRUS, APPLES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITYY, GREAT ACIDITY AND A LONG FINISH
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6/14/2009 - Anonymous wrote: 96 Points
Wow, this is an awesome chardonnay. These were purchased on release and stored perfectly. It's a very CA bottle of wine (no clue how RP think this is like a Batard) but it is superb. Toasted, oily, orange zest, tropical fruit, layered and layered and layered with good acidic punch at the finish. Drink it now. This is not getting any better. Kistlers fall off a cliff and are undrinkable when they get oxidized so don't waste this wine....friendly advice, drink it now.
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6/1/2009 - dream wrote: 88 Points
A bit past its best but still has lovely flavors of tropical fruit with limestone on the finish. Nicely complex and concetrated but better 2 years ago.
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4/5/2009 - rosenst1 wrote: 94 Points
My first Kistler was a 94 Vine Hill which had a marvelous "goes down like water" quality. This wine has excellent
acidity and that same quality, with a lemon and mineral finish. This is much less extracted or better minerality from
the vineyard than some of the other Kistler bottlings I have had. The balance on this wine is also almost perfect.
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3/13/2009 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
wonderful. Great on every area, but the finish is just okay compared to other aspects.
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1/4/2009 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
My last bottle of this stunning wine. Light yellow in color. Aromas of cinnamon, stones, toasted brioche and a touch of tropical fruit. Rich but beautifully balanced, silky fruit in the mouth with great depth and length. Almost painful in its intensity, this wine was outstanding with foie gras with truffles as well as Iberico ham and various cheeses.
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12/14/2008 - winelovr2001 wrote: 95 Points
An absolutely brilliant chardonnay not showing its six year age at all. Nose of marmalade, citrus, and minerality. There is some oak on the palate but it is well integrated and perfectly balanced.
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11/12/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 92 Points
More prominent oak in this bottle, but beautifully balanced fruit and acids. Excellent.
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10/25/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
nose: nice rich nose of buttered toast, lemon custard, loads of other lemon tones, white florals, smoked apricots. Very pretty aromatics that have gotten lighter with air. very well balanced with a smooth elegance
taste: much lighter in body then previous Kistlers taht I've had. Silky tones of sweet tropical fruits, sweet lemons, lemon custard, bits of salt, white florals, and tart apricot tones
overall: A very elegant and pretty Kistler. Nice lifting nose that translates well on the palate. This is a chard that evokes thoughts of the classic hollywood beauties. A real class wine that struts its pedigree while having a coyness to it.
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9/22/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 93 Points
Excellent balance and structure. Pure minerality, tropical fruit and citrus oil. Hints of oak, cream, nuts, and light spice.
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9/10/2008 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Flickinger Wines customer Appreciation Tasting (The Racquet Club, Chicago): Notes of citrus and apple with strong floral overtones. Very rich and full in the mouth, with apple, citrus, butter and vanilla tones.
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9/1/2008 - Ki Punwar wrote: 95 Points
This Kistler really improved with about 1 hour of aeration, blossoming to reveal notes of apricot, pineapple and exotic fruits along with honey. Lots of purity here with a good underlying structure and minerality
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7/8/2008 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Smith River trip. No notes on a bottle I've drank 18 other times.
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7/6/2008 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Deep golden yellow color, delicious rich citrus fruit with buttery, flinty flavors, wine lingers for minutes
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7/6/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 95 Points
14.1% alcohol. a superb wine, beautifully delineated, with clean lines, pure acid, and integrated oak that allows the minerality to shine. outstanding!
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7/3/2008 - jbaron wrote: 95 Points
This wine has everything - excellent orange tropical fruit, nice citrusy backbone. The nose is deep and penetrating, the mouth is balanced and rich and rich and rich, and the length is lingering - and rich. Lychees, light mangoes, light pepper everywhere.
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6/27/2008 - eudora wrote: 96 Points
Yow! Burgundian in its complexity, precision.
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6/23/2008 - spotfin wrote: 94 Points
Delish, at its peak.
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6/8/2008 - MJTed wrote: 94 Points
Still showing strong acidity, rich fruit and a prominent nose.
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5/3/2008 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful richness and flavor. But, getting less intense as previous; I am finding out I like many of the Cali Chards younger.
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4/22/2008 - etirer wrote: 95 Points
This wine sucks! If you have any of this in your cellar send it all to me and I'll make sure it is properly disposed of! Seriously - another fabulous example of white burgundy style chard made in good ole CA.
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1/7/2008 - chicagobagley wrote: 96 Points
Awesome, probably my favorite Kistler to date. Full flavored, with a great nose. Still has some life and will have to hold the other one for a while.
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12/15/2007 - gregg g wrote:
Tight upon opening, taking about an hour to open. Nice aromatics showing chopped nuts and butterscotch. The palate is starting to show secondary flavors, but lacking an elegance a wine of this breed should have. Slightly heavy mouthfeel. Still has acidity left to age a bit more. The finish is not as long as I would have liked, turning slightly bitter on the end. All in all, this wine was not great.
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12/8/2007 - wpd wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle. Still every bit the wine it was in the past.
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11/19/2007 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 90 Points
A really well made wine but not all my style. Thick and unctuous. The color was a hazey yellow/golden. The nose is a bit reductive with oatmeal, butterscotch and sweet pears. The wine was a bit hot for me, although good.
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11/18/2007 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
The flavors were awesome! Integrating well. Best one yet. Tropical and citrus flavors.
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9/16/2007 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Richard and Sheri's house, a crowd pleaser! very nice.
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9/13/2007 - spotfin wrote: 92 Points
Golden hue, nose of ripe peaches, apricots, oily texture, meyer lemon on the palate, a great wine and at its peak.
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9/2/2007 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Still humming right along.
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8/31/2007 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
Starting to really hit its stride. Could not give it more points, due to a 04 peter michael mon plasir totally outclassed it.
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8/12/2007 - ken-yyz wrote: 90 Points
Very nice but not nearly as expressive as I expected or hoped. Good intensity - some citrus and medium bodied. Only hints of oak that seem wonderfully integrated.
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6/25/2007 - LarryF wrote: 93 Points
Always better with some age.
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6/24/2007 - wpd wrote: 92 Points
Consistently great wine.Second bottle this week. did not disapoint. Drank with the Sullivans and extended family. Everyone raved about it. Among the "other wines" was an 84 BV Geo de Latour (Still excellent) '78 Louis Martini (quite nicei, '99 Verite La Joie (Fabulous-big and fruity), 01 Giugal D'Pape excellent, '85 Grirgich Hills Cab, '83 Jafflin Gevry Chambertin (cloudy, but good with a good nose of Barnyard, violets, but a bit on the light side, 97 Far Niente Chard (very good) and some other wines that were just o.k.(Vine cliff chard, Rombauer Zin and others.
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6/21/2007 - wpd wrote: 92 Points
Good starting wine for the longest day of the year! Big, flavorful, citrusy, slightly oaky with vanilla flavors. A bit overpowering at first, but became more balanced after 15-20 minutes. Slight hint of matchsticks & butter.
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4/24/2007 - MJTed wrote: 93 Points
Still going strong and probably will evolve if not improve for at least a couple years. Crisp acidity and great complement of tropical fruit and complex secondary spice flavors.
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3/11/2007 - llink wrote:
Golden yellow color, with an alluring nose of spices and grapefruit. The palate is rich and full with recurring grapefruit flavors and some oily minerality. Long finish. This was outclassed by the 01 Lafon Mersault Charmes.
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1/21/2007 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Opened up quite nice. At beginning, it had a bit of burnt caramel with peach and mango. After two hours it had much more balance with some lemon curd and citrus; burnt caramel blew off. Oily- you can't get that with the lesser chards. It was much better when warming up. When to cold, it became a bit closed. Can definetly go a few more years.
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1/19/2007 - dream wrote: 88 Points
Good acidity combined with nice fruit flavors of lime, mango and peach. Medium-bodied and finishes nicely concentrated with a minerally finish. Not aging as well as I would have hoped given that I rated it two or three points higher a years ago.
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9/2/2006 - brianofthevine wrote: 91 Points
Tropical citrus and mineral notes.
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8/4/2006 - sbeeks wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Ojai Valley Inn with Andrew and Stacy. Great. Not as good as the 1999.
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7/18/2006 - silton wrote: 91 Points
Very good all around Chard... somewhat subdued aromas, with a lovely flavor combination of pit fruits, citrus, and stone, and with very nice finish, but it didn't blow me away with its depth of fruit. More subtle than I was expecting, and I wasn't into the dustyness so much. Probably should have waited. A great bottle of wine, not sure about the QPR.
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3/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Medium yellow with slight green tinge. Full rich aroma of tight yellow fruit with hints of spice. Thick rich mouthfeel with good clean yellow fruit but a little tight. Needs time. 3/06
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1/28/2006 - Lorenzo B wrote: 93 Points
nice balance of fruit and oak, with good nose and nice finish. a pleasure to drink
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12/28/2005 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Getting better but this still needs time.
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12/6/2005 - rhansen wrote: 93 Points
I’m certainly not the world’s biggest chard fan, but this was a great way to start the night. Floral notes with hints of citrus and vanilla with a beautiful mouth feel.
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9/5/2005 - Mike V wrote: 93 Points
Continiues to impress.
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8/6/2005 - KellyW wrote: 94 Points
I have come to the conclusion that Vine Hill is one of the best chardonnay bottlings from Kistler. Yellow-green color. The nose is very rich with tuscan lemon and apricot. Very dense on the palate, the fruit wraps tightly around a solid mineral core. Citrus and pit fruit is predominant. Great persistence. A real joy to drink.
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3/5/2005 - Mike V wrote: 93 Points
With fresh trout. Lovely clear green hued yellow color. Typical kistler nose with oak and citrus. Citrus lemon peel and mineral.
Clearly very young but with great promise. Guess I will have to pull out an 01.
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