Great wine. Purchased directly from Kistler on release, cellared in temperature-controlled storage for about two decades, this was in excellent condition, and certainly not past its prime. Rich, velvety, mature California pinot noir, not overly-oaked, 14.1% alc., small amount of sediment, beautiful color, satisfying finish. Enjoyed with bohemian steak.
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first Kistler PN I've had in almost a decade; opened 30+ minutes; ruby red, no bricking; fine dusty sediment; Still a exorbitant cherry cola nose, a little red plum fruit too; very extracted, lots of fresh fruit showing the Kistler style that helped bring PN back to the Calif radar. Not young and overly fruity; but not showing much evolution into a mature PN which would emphasize soft, tertiary ,scents and flavors; still medium knarly in a good way, so if you want old world refinement come back in another decade. This is California Pinot Noir and proud of it.
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dark red color, dark cherry aroma, sweet dark cherry fruit dominates on the palate, some acidity, medium length finish. Probably should drink up any remaining bottles soon.
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Probably not fair to rate this late in its life. Early '17 is at least three years too late to drink this wine. It still gives some pleasure, but any fruit brightness or layered complexity is covered by a lumbering thickness on the palate. Not an ager, at least not for fourteen years.
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Drank my last bottle with a beef, veal and sausage meatloaf while watching the Mets get bombed in game two of the World Series. The game was a disappointment, but the wine was fine!
Popped and poured, it was different than most Kistler Pinots I have had. Lots of acidity and some sweet red fruits. Not as grippy or over extracted as some Kistlers can be. It had a nice balance between the fruit and the acid and was a pleasure to drink with food. I would never have thought to leave it and let it age for this many years, it was just a bottle that got lost in my cellar. But it turned out great!
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Second Sunday Group: Older California Pinots (Barb's): Crimson color with aromas of red fruit- candied at first, like a cherry Life Saver, turning to dark fruit and perfume. Medium tannins with a nice mix of red and dark fruit. Balanced and lovely.
My #3, Domino's #2 Group #4, 44 pts
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Popped and poured at VP with bacon-wrapped arctic char. Stunning wine tonight. Vibrant fruit with focus and purity. Fresh despite being a decade old. Long silky finish with spice, earth and tea.
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14.1% alcohol. a very average wine that has no major flaws, it's just bleh. cherry cola, black cherry, burnt toasted oak (which sounds worse than it is), and the one note that bothers me the most: medicinal. there is no vibrancy or lift on the palate, and the finish is heavy. purchased from the mailing list, all the right transport and storage, yada, yada, yada. no reason to hold. drink.
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Last bottle. Better than the last two, but very different. Now is secondary stages of flavors, with fruit diminishing and the earth/cola/spice notes dominating. But still very good finish and decent acidity.
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Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, cola and spices. Ripe, nicely structured fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and length. Sauve mouthfeel with well-integrated oak and tannins. Not as rich or as thick as I anticipated but a delicious and compelling wine to enjoy now.
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Popped an poured with king Salmon at Marche. Good nose, but muted palate at first. After a half hour opened up with big perfumed and black cherry fruit, a touch of plum and spice. Still showing some oak but very well integrated. silky texture and ample structure to hold for awhile.
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Drink now! Still looking good. There is certainly acid, but that allows it to pair with a variety of foods. Interesting earthy nose with hints of coffee. Taste is dark cherry and spice.
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Deep red color. Nose of cola, forest floor, raspberry and cherry. Palate quite harsh. Very acidic. Strong cherry, cough syrup. Held up pretty well over 5 days.
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Time to drink up. Popped and poured at Junoon. Soft and delicately aged. Sweetish red cherry, some plum and forest floor. Modest finish and nice acidity. Great with food but not much oomph on its own.
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I love the acidity, and the bright cherry flavors after 7 years. Low in alcohol, which also is pleasing. But there is an edge to this wine that I cannot describe, that should not be there after this amount of time. Finish is ok, not great. Altogether, a very nice Ca pinot, but not great. It has aged nicely.
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This bottle is outstanding (the last bottle was corked). Makes me forget about frustration over the years with French Red Burgundy. Still young but the wine has developed some secondary nuances of red fruit beyond bing cherry and raspberry which are still very prevalent. Fruit tannin is still there in the background so needs more time to reach full potential. A few sips took my breath away and I just enjoyed the moment.
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Ruby red color with a bouquet of fresh cherry and boysenberry with a bit of a metallic note. Day 1 The wine starts out with lots of fruit and good acidity although it is a bit tart. The finish is nice but not exceptionally long but it does coat the palate with pleasant flavors of spice and caramel. Drinking really nicely now.
24 hours later the wine has opened up really nicely and mellowed a bit. finish is longer and the tartness has faded.
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Opened last night with great anticipation given the notes here and the comments from the winery on how well the 2002 and 2003 wines are drinking. Unfortunately, this was rough and sour and very hot on the palate; not corked per se, but just undrinkable. Cellared since release so that is unlikely the cause Did not improve 24 hours later.
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In the glass a dark ruby to the rim offering a nose of black cherry,spice and flowers - In the mouth a very forward rush of cherry and then a mid palate of cherry,plum,pomegranate and spice in a wine offering roundness rather than a lush softness as so many RRV pinots do. The finish is fine and persistent. A surprising offering from Kistler as their pinots have been a disappointment for me in the past. A very enjoyable wine.
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Found this in back of another Kistler Pinot-wasn't in my inventory. Pleasant surprise. Drank with several friends and all agreed it was fabulous. Deep garnet, ruby color, violets and fruit on the nose. Beautiful cherries and black fruits on the palate. Really a great wine for my palate. Beautifully balanced.
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Opened and poured. This is a lovely wine! Deep ruby, almost blue-toned in color with a wonderful nose of red cherry, raspberry and flowers. On the palate - loads of dark cherry, raspberry, current & spice delivered with a full, almost silky texture. This bottle was a bit tight for the first hour to the point i was concerned it should have stayed in the cellar for another 1-2 years- then it really began to show multiple layers & complexity with air time leaving me with the impression that it is drinking near perfectly right now.
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Lush and velvety with a very dark fruit profile. Never will be mistaken for Burgundy, but easily recognizable as Kistler. Very nice for what it is, and with the right expectations and pairing.
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Tonight, this wine seems a bit on the tart side, and it took quite a bit of time (more than an hour) to be at its best. The nose is present, if not great, but the mouth seems tart and a bit clipped. The length also a bit thin. A decent drink, but a disappointment for a wine that has showed very well in the past.
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Excellent! bitter black cherries, black fruits but a smooth wine balanced with the oak and acidity. Last bottle of this vintage. This one has steadily improved with age. My guess is it will last another 10 years. oops! Meant to keep one of this vintage. Should have looked at Cellar Tracker before I opened it. Bottle No. 10536
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Decanted for approximately one hour. Tart black cherry fruit, spice and some earthiness on the nose. Initially, a bit of heat as well. Even though it was decanted for an hour, it still needed time, as it was just hitting its peak after four hours. At that point, it was a beautiful pinot - the tart black cherry fruit and a certain spiciness are prevalent, but the wine's balance was the best feature, as everything is integrated nicely at this point. Not an oversized pinot - I like this style.
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Nice at the beginning. Rich, thick finish that is very nice. Then, it became a bit tart and hollow for the next hour. Then, it really opened up revealing tons of fruit, richness nad complexity. Wish I had more. The wine becoming so much better after 2-3 hours was a surprise based on last tasting a year ago. Wonderful wine!!!
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Popped and poured over the holidays. Heady aromas of black cherries. Heat on theh finish intitially, dissapating after 2 hours in a decanter. Day2: flavors of chocolate covered cherries, tooth coating but integrated tannins, long finish. Really improved after a day
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Popped and poured. Big wine, nose of dark fruits and some forest floor earthy components. Deep and extracted with very concentrated rich flavors, strong fruit and intriguing soil notes.
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Killer. big fruit, balanced tannins. Got better after half an hour. Thanksgiving dinner. Drank after the '81 Lafite which was fabulous also. Shared with Kris, Debi, Lee, Linda, Gil, Daneille. (All before the Dinner.)
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A very real surprise, this bottle could be one of the best Kistler pinots that I've had. It's light on its feet and full of ethereal candied red fruits and orange peel, with earth and smoke. It's beguiling in the sense that it's mouth is unlike most other pinots - it's light and intriguing and full of bright fruit. The nose is penetrating and the length is spicy and lingering. The wine is in balance. The best showing yet for this wine.
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Excellent. 2 bottles left. Well balanced fruit, tannins and acidity. A bit sweet after the Burgundy we started with at this lunch. Shared with Delahaye, Sullivan.
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Absolutely singing right now. Still quite dark in color, with ripe cherry fruit, and silky almost viscous texture to match. I would say it is nearly peaking, but has plenty of life.
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This wine has aged nicely and the powerful, thick fruit has mellowed some providing a more subdued drink than usual for a Kistler Pinot. Has that delicious and slightly candied cherry fruit and shows a very defined concentration of cinamin-cherry fruit on the long,spicy finish. Drink up now.
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Not a blockbuster Kistler, but very good nonetheless. Unmistakable for the house style and vineyard. Dark purple and very full bodied. Dark black cherries with a round and velvety mouthfeel. Drinking well now, but just at the beginning of its window.
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Drinking unbelievably well right now. Classic RRB with cherries and candy, with an almost uncharacteristically heavy body for a pinot. Paired spectacularly well with copper river king salmon. I wish I had more of these...
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2002 Pinots; 1/1/2007-12/31/2007 (Various): Sexy yet indeterminate. It's hard to describe why I like this wine as much as I do, as much as I might be tempted to pen this facet or that facet. The nose (like the iwne) is clear and radiant, fruity with a nice undertone of muddy, rocky earth. The taste follows, with bright cherry and sweet (as opposed to tart) raspberry and blackberry notes. This time around, the mouth is a bit muddy, which detracts from the overall experience. The length is good but slightly tarter than what I'd prefer. Very Kistler-esque, and very nice.
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Showing very well indeed; a good, red cherry and sappy taste enveloped by a thin, ethereal envelope of acid with a bit of tannin. Full, slightly tart nose of red cherries. Shows as ready to drink; hard to imagine it'll get better, but I have to say that I don't see any reason to wait. Given all of the American pinot that I drink, I don't regret the tariff of this one at all.
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On opening, wonderful nose, extraordinarily rich flavor. Plenty of black cherry and cassis. A little heat. I would never have identified this as a pinot blind. With time though it all snapped into place.
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Deep red color. Nose of black cherry and cola. Very extracted on the palate, with soft but firm tannins, nicely integrated with the spicy fruit. The wine has a nice weight to it on the palate, but the long finish is a little hot. This wine is still a baby, it will be intesting to see if it develops some secondary aromas and nuance with further aging.
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Best bottle of this I've had, to date. It's really coming together. Great pinot flavors, lots of kirsch, smooth, very little 'heat' in the aftertaste. Maybe you have to hold these for 3-4 years to allow them to integrate?
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It's hard to understand why this wine wasn't rated higher than it was. yes, it's extracted, but there's no sense of overipe frut here. Instead, there's a wine that has an acid background (perhaps that explains Parker's low-ish rating) that sourrounds and envelopes a fruit core that is all pinot. 100% pinot. There's no roasted red wine here, no sir! There's sappy, red fruit (cherries, raspberries, blackberries) and a good core of ground, earthy taste. There's a decent midpalate (a failing perhaps) but a length that is just fine.
Yes, this wine might "deserve" a lower score if one were to "add up" all of the facets that might make a good wine be great, but it makes up for it with sheer sex appeal.
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Bright pink color. Lively aroma of briar and sweet cherry. 11/04 Full red color. Big forward candied ripe red fruit. Lovely rich ripe black cherry and cassis with zingy acidity. Drinking a bit better than the last time I had it, but still way young. 10/05
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3/2/2023 - R Z Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine. Purchased directly from Kistler on release, cellared in temperature-controlled storage for about two decades, this was in excellent condition, and certainly not past its prime. Rich, velvety, mature California pinot noir, not overly-oaked, 14.1% alc., small amount of sediment, beautiful color, satisfying finish. Enjoyed with bohemian steak.
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1/27/2021 - vinojones wrote: 93 Points
first Kistler PN I've had in almost a decade; opened 30+ minutes; ruby red, no bricking; fine dusty sediment; Still a exorbitant cherry cola nose, a little red plum fruit too; very extracted, lots of fresh fruit showing the Kistler style that helped bring PN back to the Calif radar. Not young and overly fruity; but not showing much evolution into a mature PN which would emphasize soft, tertiary ,scents and flavors; still medium knarly in a good way, so if you want old world refinement come back in another decade. This is California Pinot Noir and proud of it.
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6/22/2019 - Schwarzer Hund wrote:
dark red color, dark cherry aroma, sweet dark cherry fruit dominates on the palate, some acidity, medium length finish. Probably should drink up any remaining bottles soon.
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1/11/2017 - LesPaul wrote:
Probably not fair to rate this late in its life. Early '17 is at least three years too late to drink this wine. It still gives some pleasure, but any fruit brightness or layered complexity is covered by a lumbering thickness on the palate. Not an ager, at least not for fourteen years.
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10/28/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank my last bottle with a beef, veal and sausage meatloaf while watching the Mets get bombed in game two of the World Series. The game was a disappointment, but the wine was fine!
Popped and poured, it was different than most Kistler Pinots I have had. Lots of acidity and some sweet red fruits. Not as grippy or over extracted as some Kistlers can be. It had a nice balance between the fruit and the acid and was a pleasure to drink with food. I would never have thought to leave it and let it age for this many years, it was just a bottle that got lost in my cellar. But it turned out great!
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7/13/2014 - AJG wrote: flawed
Corked.
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4/4/2014 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Good tart red fruits, found this in balance and in a good place right now. Doubtful to improve further, so I'd recommend drinking soon.
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2/9/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Second Sunday Group: Older California Pinots (Barb's): Crimson color with aromas of red fruit- candied at first, like a cherry Life Saver, turning to dark fruit and perfume. Medium tannins with a nice mix of red and dark fruit. Balanced and lovely.
My #3, Domino's #2
Group #4, 44 pts
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7/20/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Mark in South Haven. Dusty cherry notes with some loam.
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7/20/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Mark. 2nd time I have had it. Smooth an elegant. Notes of currants and kirsch. 93 points.
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5/2/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 93 Points
cloudy, red, orange, in the color. dark berry, black cherry, earth, smoke, spice, cocoa, pepper, on the nose. well-rounded finish.
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12/27/2012 - MJTed wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured at VP with bacon-wrapped arctic char. Stunning wine tonight. Vibrant fruit with focus and purity. Fresh despite being a decade old. Long silky finish with spice, earth and tea.
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12/25/2012 - paul195 wrote: 89 Points
Bright ruby red appearance, sweet red fruit nose laced with hints of tea and spice. mid weight short finish, new world style.
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11/4/2012 - Grinner wrote: 90 Points
16th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (Same Old Place): Deep ripe fruit with some spice, earth, and rose notes. Then the tannins hit MID-palate! This was the only one out of 35 wines to do that this night.
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4/19/2012 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
bright red in color. cherry, raspberry, floral, spice, on the nose. balanced of acid and tannin in the finish.
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11/5/2011 - Mr. Muga wrote: 94 Points
At it's peak drinking window now. Flavor profiles consistent with tasting notes posted by bwaverley on 2/6/2011.
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7/30/2011 - hsacks wrote: 93 Points
A touch fresher and richer than the 6/27/10 bottle.
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4/12/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 87 Points
Pleasant but muted notes of cherry and sweet earth. Lacks complexity.
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2/14/2011 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Bohemian Duck Dinner (Pinot and Riesling) (New Buffalo, Michigan): Opened with my wife's duck. Much more fruity than the 2003. Round and excellent depth. No heat and well balanced. Notes of ripe berries, light oak and toasted almonds. 93 points.
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2/6/2011 - bwaverley wrote: 93 Points
A wonderful blend of raspberry, bing cherry, baking spices and integrated oak. THis is a great wine!
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1/28/2011 - jeff nowak wrote:
14.1% alcohol. a very average wine that has no major flaws, it's just bleh. cherry cola, black cherry, burnt toasted oak (which sounds worse than it is), and the one note that bothers me the most: medicinal. there is no vibrancy or lift on the palate, and the finish is heavy. purchased from the mailing list, all the right transport and storage, yada, yada, yada. no reason to hold. drink.
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12/23/2010 - Edclr wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle. Better than the last two, but very different. Now is secondary stages of flavors, with fruit diminishing and the earth/cola/spice notes dominating. But still very good finish and decent acidity.
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11/25/2010 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
CHERRIES, BLACK RASPBERRIES, AND SPICE IN THE NOSE WITH A FLAVOR TO MATCH. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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6/27/2010 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, cola and spices. Ripe, nicely structured fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and length. Sauve mouthfeel with well-integrated oak and tannins. Not as rich or as thick as I anticipated but a delicious and compelling wine to enjoy now.
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6/2/2010 - MJTed wrote: 94 Points
Popped an poured with king Salmon at Marche. Good nose, but muted palate at first. After a half hour opened up with big perfumed and black cherry fruit, a touch of plum and spice. Still showing some oak but very well integrated. silky texture and ample structure to hold for awhile.
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5/19/2010 - GUTuna wrote: 92 Points
Drink now! Still looking good. There is certainly acid, but that allows it to pair with a variety of foods. Interesting earthy nose with hints of coffee. Taste is dark cherry and spice.
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5/16/2010 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Deep red color. Nose of cola, forest floor, raspberry and cherry. Palate quite harsh. Very acidic. Strong cherry, cough syrup. Held up pretty well over 5 days.
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4/5/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote:
Atipical smell and flavor. Reminded my of a lighter Larkin Cab franc!
It is a nice drink but off from typical kistler. Still at least 90+
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3/9/2010 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Time to drink up. Popped and poured at Junoon. Soft and delicately aged. Sweetish red cherry, some plum and forest floor. Modest finish and nice acidity. Great with food but not much oomph on its own.
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2/15/2010 - Edclr wrote: 90 Points
I love the acidity, and the bright cherry flavors after 7 years. Low in alcohol, which also is pleasing. But there is an edge to this wine that I cannot describe, that should not be there after this amount of time. Finish is ok, not great. Altogether, a very nice Ca pinot, but not great. It has aged nicely.
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1/11/2010 - JS199 wrote: 90 Points
Big fan of Kistler, however this( my 4th '02) bottle didn't shine. Drank over 2+ hrs and very tart, acidic, bright cherry.
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12/23/2009 - Mr. Muga wrote: 95 Points
This bottle is outstanding (the last bottle was corked). Makes me forget about frustration over the years with French Red Burgundy. Still young but the wine has developed some secondary nuances of red fruit beyond bing cherry and raspberry which are still very prevalent. Fruit tannin is still there in the background so needs more time to reach full potential. A few sips took my breath away and I just enjoyed the moment.
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10/2/2009 - ed-d wrote: 92 Points
Concentrated sweet cherry fruit. Lush & focused.
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9/23/2009 - Peech wrote:
smooth on the palate, good concentration
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9/19/2009 - NY Wino wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red color with a bouquet of fresh cherry and boysenberry with a bit of a metallic note. Day 1 The wine starts out with lots of fruit and good acidity although it is a bit tart. The finish is nice but not exceptionally long but it does coat the palate with pleasant flavors of spice and caramel. Drinking really nicely now.
24 hours later the wine has opened up really nicely and mellowed a bit. finish is longer and the tartness has faded.
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8/6/2009 - rosenst1 wrote: flawed
Opened last night with great anticipation given the notes here and the comments from
the winery on how well the 2002 and 2003 wines are drinking. Unfortunately, this was
rough and sour and very hot on the palate; not corked per se, but just undrinkable.
Cellared since release so that is unlikely the cause Did not improve 24 hours later.
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7/10/2009 - sdsull wrote: 92 Points
Drank in Singapore on the roof of the Fairmont Hotel with friends. Was a beautiful bottle.
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5/30/2009 - beezer6 wrote: flawed
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): CORKED!!!! Immediately the nose was dominated by a musty odor.
Palate still showed some fruit, but it was drowned out by the funk.
Boo!!! Super dissapointed I only had one bottle. Oh well.
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5/23/2009 - gmat5497 wrote: 93 Points
What can you say. Very well made. Nutty, balanced, long finish
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5/14/2009 - elliotgl wrote: 91 Points
In the glass a dark ruby to the rim offering a nose of black cherry,spice and flowers - In the mouth a very forward rush of cherry and then a mid palate of cherry,plum,pomegranate and spice in a wine offering roundness rather than a lush softness
as so many RRV pinots do. The finish is fine and persistent. A surprising offering from Kistler as their pinots have been a disappointment for me in the past. A very enjoyable wine.
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4/8/2009 - wpd wrote: 93 Points
Found this in back of another Kistler Pinot-wasn't in my inventory. Pleasant surprise. Drank with several friends and all agreed it was fabulous. Deep garnet, ruby color, violets and fruit on the nose. Beautiful cherries and black fruits on the palate. Really a great wine for my palate. Beautifully balanced.
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2/7/2009 - CMz wrote: 92 Points
Opened and poured. This is a lovely wine! Deep ruby, almost blue-toned in color with a wonderful nose of red cherry, raspberry and flowers. On the palate - loads of dark cherry, raspberry, current & spice delivered with a full, almost silky texture. This bottle was a bit tight for the first hour to the point i was concerned it should have stayed in the cellar for another 1-2 years- then it really began to show multiple layers & complexity with air time leaving me with the impression that it is drinking near perfectly right now.
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10/13/2008 - jerhardt wrote: 92 Points
Lush and velvety with a very dark fruit profile. Never will be mistaken for Burgundy, but easily recognizable as Kistler. Very nice for what it is, and with the right expectations and pairing.
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8/11/2008 - hwallace3000K wrote:
Residual sugar galore- to the point I thought it was flawed. Weird stuff. Not my cup o' tea.
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7/13/2008 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
rich very focused berry fruit
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7/8/2008 - MJTed wrote: 95 Points
Drank on Smith River trip and had everyone smiling. Classy New World Pinot with loads of black fruit, pomegranate and spicy oak. Still has the power.
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6/15/2008 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Tonight, this wine seems a bit on the tart side, and it took quite a bit of time (more than an hour) to be at its best. The nose is present, if not great, but the mouth seems tart and a bit clipped. The length also a bit thin. A decent drink, but a disappointment for a wine that has showed very well in the past.
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3/21/2008 - wpd wrote: 94 Points
Excellent! bitter black cherries, black fruits but a smooth wine balanced with the oak and acidity. Last bottle of this vintage. This one has steadily improved with age. My guess is it will last another 10 years. oops! Meant to keep one of this vintage. Should have looked at Cellar Tracker before I opened it. Bottle No. 10536
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2/23/2008 - Greg W wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for approximately one hour. Tart black cherry fruit, spice and some earthiness on the nose. Initially, a bit of heat as well. Even though it was decanted for an hour, it still needed time, as it was just hitting its peak after four hours. At that point, it was a beautiful pinot - the tart black cherry fruit and a certain spiciness are prevalent, but the wine's balance was the best feature, as everything is integrated nicely at this point. Not an oversized pinot - I like this style.
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2/8/2008 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Nice at the beginning. Rich, thick finish that is very nice. Then, it became a bit tart and hollow for the next hour. Then, it really opened up revealing tons of fruit, richness nad complexity. Wish I had more. The wine becoming so much better after 2-3 hours was a surprise based on last tasting a year ago. Wonderful wine!!!
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1/6/2008 - gmat5497 wrote: 90 Points
Excellent as usual. Full of fruit yet very smooth.
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12/26/2007 - Ki Punwar wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured over the holidays. Heady aromas of black cherries. Heat on theh finish intitially, dissapating after 2 hours in a decanter. Day2: flavors of chocolate covered cherries, tooth coating but integrated tannins, long finish. Really improved after a day
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12/15/2007 - llink wrote:
Popped and poured. Big wine, nose of dark fruits and some forest floor earthy components. Deep and extracted with very concentrated rich flavors, strong fruit and intriguing soil notes.
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12/5/2007 - gmat5497 wrote: 90 Points
Good not great.
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12/2/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours.
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11/22/2007 - wpd wrote: 93 Points
Killer. big fruit, balanced tannins. Got better after half an hour. Thanksgiving dinner. Drank after the '81 Lafite which was fabulous also. Shared with Kris, Debi, Lee, Linda, Gil, Daneille. (All before the Dinner.)
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10/6/2007 - jbaron wrote: 94 Points
A very real surprise, this bottle could be one of the best Kistler pinots that I've had. It's light on its feet and full of ethereal candied red fruits and orange peel, with earth and smoke. It's beguiling in the sense that it's mouth is unlike most other pinots - it's light and intriguing and full of bright fruit. The nose is penetrating and the length is spicy and lingering. The wine is in balance. The best showing yet for this wine.
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9/30/2007 - wpd wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. 2 bottles left. Well balanced fruit, tannins and acidity. A bit sweet after the Burgundy we started with at this lunch. Shared with Delahaye, Sullivan.
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9/21/2007 - chicagobagley wrote: 94 Points
Just awesome, wish I had more
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8/16/2007 - MJTed wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely singing right now. Still quite dark in color, with ripe cherry fruit, and silky almost viscous texture to match. I would say it is nearly peaking, but has plenty of life.
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8/7/2007 - dream wrote: 90 Points
This wine has aged nicely and the powerful, thick fruit has mellowed some providing a more subdued drink than usual for a Kistler Pinot. Has that delicious and slightly candied cherry fruit and shows a very defined concentration of cinamin-cherry fruit on the long,spicy finish. Drink up now.
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8/3/2007 - jerhardt wrote: 93 Points
Not a blockbuster Kistler, but very good nonetheless. Unmistakable for the house style and vineyard. Dark purple and very full bodied. Dark black cherries with a round and velvety mouthfeel. Drinking well now, but just at the beginning of its window.
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6/17/2007 - DukeDrew wrote: 94 Points
Drinking unbelievably well right now. Classic RRB with cherries and candy, with an almost uncharacteristically heavy body for a pinot. Paired spectacularly well with copper river king salmon. I wish I had more of these...
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5/20/2007 - jbaron wrote: 92 Points
2002 Pinots; 1/1/2007-12/31/2007 (Various): Sexy yet indeterminate. It's hard to describe why I like this wine as much as I do, as much as I might be tempted to pen this facet or that facet. The nose (like the iwne) is clear and radiant, fruity with a nice undertone of muddy, rocky earth. The taste follows, with bright cherry and sweet (as opposed to tart) raspberry and blackberry notes. This time around, the mouth is a bit muddy, which detracts from the overall experience. The length is good but slightly tarter than what I'd prefer. Very Kistler-esque, and very nice.
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3/22/2007 - jbaron wrote: 93 Points
Showing very well indeed; a good, red cherry and sappy taste enveloped by a thin, ethereal envelope of acid with a bit of tannin. Full, slightly tart nose of red cherries. Shows as ready to drink; hard to imagine it'll get better, but I have to say that I don't see any reason to wait. Given all of the American pinot that I drink, I don't regret the tariff of this one at all.
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2/19/2007 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
Very Nice, but I question if it is worth the price? Changed throughout the 5 hours, but not for the better or worse; just different.
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12/9/2006 - slon wrote:
On opening, wonderful nose, extraordinarily rich flavor. Plenty of black cherry and cassis. A little heat. I would never have identified this as a pinot blind. With time though it all snapped into place.
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11/25/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours.
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11/19/2006 - Mark wrote: 93 Points
No tasting notes. Significant improvement after forty five minutes.
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7/29/2006 - llink wrote: 90 Points
Deep red color. Nose of black cherry and cola. Very extracted on the palate, with soft but firm tannins, nicely integrated with the spicy fruit. The wine has a nice weight to it on the palate, but the long finish is a little hot. This wine is still a baby, it will be intesting to see if it develops some secondary aromas and nuance with further aging.
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7/1/2006 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
What a huge wine! I would think this is a cab. Rich, round. Big, explosive nose and pallet. Can last a long time.
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6/20/2006 - PeterH wrote: 95 Points
Best bottle of this I've had, to date. It's really coming together. Great pinot flavors, lots of kirsch, smooth, very little 'heat' in the aftertaste. Maybe you have to hold these for 3-4 years to allow them to integrate?
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5/20/2006 - wcooper wrote: 94 Points
Wow, the black cherry taste is great. More substantial wine than many pinots. I can't wait for it to age and develop other flavor nuances.
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5/20/2006 - slugme wrote: 90 Points
Somewhat of a disappointment to me. May be the result of my taste buds which have been shying away from all Pinot's recently.
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4/8/2006 - jbaron wrote: 93 Points
It's hard to understand why this wine wasn't rated higher than it was. yes, it's extracted, but there's no sense of overipe frut here. Instead, there's a wine that has an acid background (perhaps that explains Parker's low-ish rating) that sourrounds and envelopes a fruit core that is all pinot. 100% pinot. There's no roasted red wine here, no sir! There's sappy, red fruit (cherries, raspberries, blackberries) and a good core of ground, earthy taste. There's a decent midpalate (a failing perhaps) but a length that is just fine.
Yes, this wine might "deserve" a lower score if one were to "add up" all of the facets that might make a good wine be great, but it makes up for it with sheer sex appeal.
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3/12/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Could have used another hour.
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1/21/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted and took to a restaurant
rich combination of fruit and spice. nice finish. ever changing spices
much more elegant than the 03 sonoma coast i had recently (not much of a surprise i guess).
very tasty.
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10/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Bright pink color. Lively aroma of briar and sweet cherry. 11/04
Full red color. Big forward candied ripe red fruit. Lovely rich ripe black cherry and cassis with zingy acidity. Drinking a bit better than the last time I had it, but still way young. 10/05
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7/1/2005 - lorenzo wrote:
<alan wong's grill - hualalai -sby/rjb>
corked!
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11/1/2004 - winefool wrote:
Bright pink color. Lively aroma of briar and sweet cherry. 11/04
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