October 16, 2022 - Popped and poured. In good shape. Fully mature. Lovely aged nose. The wine shows well integrated autumn apple, lemon and almond. Very pure, nice length.
September 6, 2020 - Similar to the 5/25/18 bottle and still incredibly fresh and complex at 10 years of age.
June 22, 2020 - Creamy, not a lot of fruit left seemed to me.
August 21, 2019 - Hanging in there but just..... Signs of oxidation beginning to appear and the lush tropical fruit (no acid left to speak of) just seemed tired. Drink up!
In looking at recent reviews all I can say is that my bottle was in a very very different place. I am really surprised that there are so many bottles still in people's cellars!
June 28, 2019 - Light lemon yellow in color. Tangerine and orange peel, butterscotch and citrus nose. Upon opening started with crisp lemon citrus flavors, moderate oak and vanilla early on, pineapple , citrus and then finishes with some minerality as it progresses to the end. Does change character with air and warming. Really good just right out of the chute chilled but not cold.
January 9, 2019 - Side by side with Kistler Hudson of same vintage, this wine showed more acidity and length but less depth and grip. Crushed flowers and vanilla on the nose, lemon curd and a bit of honey-almond. A pleasure to drink.
May 25, 2018 - Hazy, greenish gold color. Aromas of summer melons, red apples, lime sorbet and vanilla. Ripe, full-bodied, nicely balanced fruit in the mouth with great depth and length. Oily and long on the palate. Still very fresh and youthful and thoroughly delicious with the scallops, pork belly and halibut at Pumpkin Restaurant. One of the best "older" Kistler Chardonnays I have has in a long while.
February 5, 2018 - Beautiful wine. Silky texture with smokey pineapple, spices and white peach.
April 28, 2017 - I usually enjoy kistler and the Durrell vineyard in particular but this one just isn't a very good wine. It may be how it aged in the bottle but the fruit is gone and in its place is an over-the-top movie popcorn aroma and overpowering oak flavor. Almost like a strong perfume oak flavor. Just not enjoyable.
February 20, 2017 - This too was a bit tired and lacking the typical Kistler expressiveness.