Kistler with Brooke Barnett

Tasted Friday, July 31, 2020 by nzinkgraf with 71 views

Introduction

started with Nelligan Vineyard at 1600ft in the Mayacamas Mtns. Steve had made a cab here, but didn't like it and planted Chard. Ruben the vineyard manager since Kistler started in 78.
Just recently purchased the vineyard site just below Nelligan.

Long term relationships with
Dutton (started working with in 79), Hudson (90s), Hyde (90s), Durell (early 80s), with Kistler proprietary clones...

Kistler Clone used in all sites and the wines are made the same. so site is the only component that is different. Steve's clones parent material originated in Burgundy. Low yields, teeny berries, hens and chicks - concentration of fruit. natural acidity from this clone.

NW to SE: Trenton Roadhouse, Laguna Ridge, Vine Hill (winery), Dutton, Silver Belt (PN), Cuvee Cathleen (mayacamas @ 1600ft), Kistler (next to Cathleen, above fog line), McCrea (1400ft, sonoma mtn, above fog line), Stone Flat (road separates it from Durell), Durell, Hudson, Hyde.

08 Kistler investment from Bill Price, who has owned Durell since the 80s. 2011 Steve starts Occidental.
Jason Kesner hired as Asst Winemaker in 2008. He was Vineyard Mgr at Hudson 2000-2008. Named winemaker in 2014. Steve leaves Kistler in 2017.

Lots of replanting going on as vines are around 35-40 years old. Especially at Vine Hill and Trenton Roadhouse. Which go into Les Nois.

Chardonnay - night pick, gentle champagne press, whole cluster. into tank, little string, settles, racked dirty into french. no stirring. 40% new french, full malo, warmer barrel room. unfined, unfiltered.

for Pinot Noir, 2 clones, Swan and Calera. but they will go to just one proprietary clone in the future. elevated aromatics, concentration, natural acid.

high farming costs, they drop a lot of fruit on the PN. To get the best fruit.

44cs / ton of fruit. usually 60-75cs / ton

super sorted, destemmed, open top ferment, native yeast. stir the tank when necessary. (so no punch downs, per se...to keep extraction low)

All free run juice with no pressing. French oak 10m, unfined, unfiltered.

2018, huge crop. did lots of thinning.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2018 Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Cheerio and dives into a little mintiness of aroma. very chiseled palate with the finest clove spice.

    Trenton Roadhouse, Vine Hill, Dutton Ranch, Laguna Ridge.

    (Sonoma Mtn Chard is all McCrea)

    Hazelnuts

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  • 2018 Kistler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    generous fruit aromas, married with an classed oak grain note. palate, the oak jumps up front a little bit more. Still tastes expensive. Very nice acidity. Medium plus for sure. oak and fruit need a little more time to come together. texture on the palate, doesn't follow from the generosity of fruit on the nose.

    Silver Belt and Laguna Ridge. Laguna Ridge used to be the Kistler Kistler site.

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