Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of lemon curd, vanilla, croissant, meringue with a hint of orange; dry; high acidity; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus to pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter and zippy with a hint of pink grapefruit; long finish; drink now; we’ve made the mistake of aging our Kistler for too long in the past; this is drinking beautifully at 4.5 years - we’ll aim for the same window with future bottles
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Clear pale gold; clean medium plus nose of cheese, macadamia nuts, kitchen lemon and kraft caramel; dry; medium plus acidity; high alcohol; medium plus body; pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of burnt sugar; long finish; drink now or in a few years; beautifully balanced with great freshness and some tertiary developing; better experience than we’ve had with our last few bottles that we drank too late
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Not as good as Kistler’s single vineyard expressions, but still quite well-made. Classic Chardonnay notes of green apple and lemon curd. A little more sweetness, roundness, and Oak than I like (and than most of Kistler’s chards have), but the high, pure acid keeps everything together and makes this wine much better than the previous clause may have suggested.
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Lime, green apple, honeydew at 15~17'C and vanilla, sweet spicy when getting higher temp. The core is solid by acidity. A little bitterness on palate may coming from high alcohol, but allowable. It was very pleasant to drink!
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Big and ripe Chardonnay. Papaya, grilled pineapple, lemon confit. Ample and rich on the palate. The oak influence lingers extensively on the finish alongside a touch of alcohol. Not my style
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Nose evokes rain soaked forest, peach purée, popcorn, clean linen, and a hint of white pepper. Big, but soft, round, lush, lots of vanilla and new oak, hints of lime zest and allspice, the imposition of Kistler big oak style on beautiful Sonoma fruit. Chalky minerality on the long finish. A very sexy chardonnay for roast chicken and grilled veal chop. Only chablis lovers and the oak averse will not love this wine. From a purely subjective view, I’d have loved to see a little more expression of the fruit and less of oak. Still , it was perfect with buttermilk brined, then smoked and grilled chicken thighs and legs, the dark meat standing up to the oak, and the creamy textures of both dancing. A 7 year wine I would guess, not expecting much change.
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Light yellow gold Bright creamy lemon aromas Ripe vanillin flavors, creamy feel and an interesting clove and horseradish note on the finish. Quite easy to enjoy without being too over the top, great restaurant choice YFS
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Deep lemon, viscous, and with a star brilliance. Pronounced nose, with aromas of overripe pineapple and mango, with red apple, cinnamon, and vanilla. Full-bodied, lots of acid and alcohol heat, and intensely flavoured of ripe pineapple and red apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, hay, brine, butter, cream, and even some walnuts and even a bit honeyed. A finish dominated by vinous alcohol. Nice overall but could be better balanced
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Delicious. Pineapple, pear, good acidity, good minerality, and just the right amount of oak and butter on the finish. Might have been the weather (hot) and the food (halibut), but this was just fantastic.
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Pale gold, and a starlight brilliance. Radish and mushroom aromas, and a somewhat briny sense, with bits of nutmeg. Fresh bright acids, and flavours of medium ripe peach, bright minerals and a sense of seabreeze, cloves, and green fern. Long lemony and spicy finish. Nice!
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Pale yellow, rich nose of white peach, pineapple, acacia flower and undertones of almond paste and brioche, round sweet pear fruit on the attack with "melt-in-your-mouth" tannins, and soft but balancing acidity, finishes long and fruit forward with white pear, summer fruit, almond, butter and spice
Note: Within the approachable range but a touch young to my palate
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P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish OAK/frt nicely offset by an acidity which seamlessly evolves into quite a LONG, BALANCED, TANGY/swt (55:45) finish which ult shows a pleasantness to counterbalance the firmness. Nice now with food, should improve through '21, then drink into '25 min? QUITE an impressive wine! My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher a good bet 'fore all is said & done. :) Gold from '20 TEXSOM Int'l @ $75. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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While I’m not usually a fan of big Cali chards, this one had so much rich, penetrating fruit that the oak, while abundant, was not at all overwhelming. There were layers and layers of citrus and orchard fruit, pineapple and nutmeg and enough acidity to keep it bright and fresh. Really nicely done!!
Bright golden color that just sparkles in the glass. Hard to coax a nose out of it but did get some citrus notes. Fairly full mouth feel but not overpowering. Apples, Pineapples and Citrus come thru but especially evident to me was the oak. I hope that blows off in 3 years. While I like a hint of it, it was a bit more than I care for. I don't usually associate Kistler with overly oaked wines. Maybe just this bottle. It was good, I enjoyed it. Much, much better on the 3rd day after it tamed down a bit.
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Light golden yellow in color. Full, forward & aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, lemons/limes & pineapples with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle & minerals, wet stones, hazelnuts, buttery, & a hint of vanilla/toasty oak in the background. Medium bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, lush, ripe fruit flavors of apples, lemons/limes & pineapple with minerals, spices, toasty oak & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but should develop further with additional aging & may merit a higher score (93+) at that time.
Golden, pale yellow hue. Needs to open up. White pear and citrus fruits on the nose. As it opens, oak notes come out (vanilla and butter but not overdone). Palate is silk smooth and full bodied. Ripe crisp apple with lemon and citrus notes. Definitely a sense of oak and some spice. Great mouth feel with terrific and integrated acidity. Cleary this is quite young but it’s delicious. Needs a little time to open. Would even recommend a quick decant if drinking now. Balanced and smooth finish of medium length. Definitely Burgundian in stile. Especially on the palate.
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12/30/2023 - aultrawines Likes this wine: 93 Points
AW93. Really enjoyed this, long finish, first experience of Kistler and will not be the last!
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7/3/2023 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of lemon curd, vanilla, croissant, meringue with a hint of orange; dry; high acidity; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus to pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter and zippy with a hint of pink grapefruit; long finish; drink now; we’ve made the mistake of aging our Kistler for too long in the past; this is drinking beautifully at 4.5 years - we’ll aim for the same window with future bottles
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6/2/2023 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear pale gold; clean medium plus nose of cheese, macadamia nuts, kitchen lemon and kraft caramel; dry; medium plus acidity; high alcohol; medium plus body; pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of burnt sugar; long finish; drink now or in a few years; beautifully balanced with great freshness and some tertiary developing; better experience than we’ve had with our last few bottles that we drank too late
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5/3/2023 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice Chard.
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4/10/2023 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely Chard.
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6/25/2022 - Weiner wrote: 90 Points
Much lemon, strong,
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6/7/2022 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful. Rich, but not too rich. Good fruit. Drinking really well.
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2/28/2022 - Weiner wrote: 90 Points
A bit creamy with honey pungent taste on back end.
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2/20/2022 - alexlb06 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Maple, vanilla, hints of oak. Nice and medium bodied
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9/25/2021 - JCR50 wrote: 90 Points
Yellow Apple. Would like to try again. Seemed to lack structure
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8/8/2021 - shza Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not as good as Kistler’s single vineyard expressions, but still quite well-made. Classic Chardonnay notes of green apple and lemon curd. A little more sweetness, roundness, and Oak than I like (and than most of Kistler’s chards have), but the high, pure acid keeps everything together and makes this wine much better than the previous clause may have suggested.
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8/7/2021 - vigure Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lime, green apple, honeydew at 15~17'C and vanilla, sweet spicy when getting higher temp. The core is solid by acidity. A little bitterness on palate may coming from high alcohol, but allowable. It was very pleasant to drink!
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7/11/2021 - rcb25 wrote:
Big and ripe Chardonnay. Papaya, grilled pineapple, lemon confit. Ample and rich on the palate. The oak influence lingers extensively on the finish alongside a touch of alcohol. Not my style
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7/1/2021 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose evokes rain soaked forest, peach purée, popcorn, clean linen, and a hint of white pepper. Big, but soft, round, lush, lots of vanilla and new oak, hints of lime zest and allspice, the imposition of Kistler big oak style on beautiful Sonoma fruit. Chalky minerality on the long finish. A very sexy chardonnay for roast chicken and grilled veal chop. Only chablis lovers and the oak averse will not love this wine. From a purely subjective view, I’d have loved to see a little more expression of the fruit and less of oak. Still , it was perfect with buttermilk brined, then smoked and grilled chicken thighs and legs, the dark meat standing up to the oak, and the creamy textures of both dancing. A 7 year wine I would guess, not expecting much change.
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6/12/2021 - Steve & Merri Likes this wine: 90 Points
I tend to go for chards with light oak. This wine does not have overpowering butter, but enough to make itself known. Nice finish
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3/14/2021 - apg23 wrote: 89 Points
Pale gold. Smell lemon and green apple. Lots of bite in this Chard...not buttery, more sharp. Plenty of acid and tannins. Like it in small doses.
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12/31/2020 - KAT9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Peachy, pineapple, minerality. On the palate, vanilla, a little oaky. But well balanced. Nice chardonnay.
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12/24/2020 - KFloveswine Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow. So good. Has caramel notes. Very smooth and delicious. Why does it have to cost so much? Great treat and a wonderful experience.
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12/4/2020 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Green gold.
My first thought was Chassagne
Big rich, yet restrained Chardonnay
With an hour of air this opens up quite a bit, rather mouth filling, bordering on heavy. Quite tasty though
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11/10/2020 - sfochild Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic California Chardonnay. Tonight we’re getting green apple and caramel (?).
Had with roasted chicken and a cream pasta.
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11/6/2020 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Light yellow gold
Bright creamy lemon aromas
Ripe vanillin flavors, creamy feel and an
interesting clove and horseradish note on the finish.
Quite easy to enjoy without being too over the top, great restaurant choice
YFS
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9/13/2020 - Jdibono Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very smooth and best Chardonnay I have ever tried. Could have 2 bottles
$79
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9/6/2020 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep lemon, viscous, and with a star brilliance. Pronounced nose, with aromas of overripe pineapple and mango, with red apple, cinnamon, and vanilla. Full-bodied, lots of acid and alcohol heat, and intensely flavoured of ripe pineapple and red apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, hay, brine, butter, cream, and even some walnuts and even a bit honeyed. A finish dominated by vinous alcohol. Nice overall but could be better balanced
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9/5/2020 - Rhwinetracker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Pineapple, pear, good acidity, good minerality, and just the right amount of oak and butter on the finish. Might have been the weather (hot) and the food (halibut), but this was just fantastic.
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8/24/2020 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale gold, and a starlight brilliance. Radish and mushroom aromas, and a somewhat briny sense, with bits of nutmeg. Fresh bright acids, and flavours of medium ripe peach, bright minerals and a sense of seabreeze, cloves, and green fern. Long lemony and spicy finish. Nice!
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8/24/2020 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely Chard. Bright fruit. Nice mouthfeel.
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8/24/2020 - bgdau Likes this wine:
Delicious and we’ll balanced.
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8/23/2020 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely balanced and even handed compared to big ripe Kistlers of old... Very Burgundian, lovely delicate round fruit, spice, light oak touch..
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8/14/2020 - duchamp wrote: 92 Points
Pale yellow, rich nose of white peach, pineapple, acacia flower and undertones of almond paste and brioche, round sweet pear fruit on the attack with "melt-in-your-mouth" tannins, and soft but balancing acidity, finishes long and fruit forward with white pear, summer fruit, almond, butter and spice
Note: Within the approachable range but a touch young to my palate
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7/31/2020 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Kistler with Brooke Barnett: 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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6/27/2020 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [3 Whites, 8 Reds, & 6 *shared* bottles] from 06/26/20 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Butter (but with some restraint), notes of smoke, with hints of lemons, POSS some tropical frts? Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish OAK/frt nicely offset by an acidity which seamlessly evolves into quite a LONG, BALANCED, TANGY/swt (55:45) finish which ult shows a pleasantness to counterbalance the firmness. Nice now with food, should improve through '21, then drink into '25 min? QUITE an impressive wine! My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher a good bet 'fore all is said & done. :) Gold from '20 TEXSOM Int'l @ $75. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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5/31/2020 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
A nicely balanced California Chard with tropical fruit (pineapple), buttery oak but still fresh and not over the top. 14.1% abv.
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5/30/2020 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 92 Points
While I’m not usually a fan of big Cali chards, this one had so much rich, penetrating fruit that the oak, while abundant, was not at all overwhelming. There were layers and layers of citrus and orchard fruit, pineapple and nutmeg and enough acidity to keep it bright and fresh. Really nicely done!!
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5/27/2020 - Barsacpinci Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright golden color that just sparkles in the glass. Hard to coax a nose out of it but did get some citrus notes. Fairly full mouth feel but not overpowering. Apples, Pineapples and Citrus come thru but especially evident to me was the oak. I hope that blows off in 3 years. While I like a hint of it, it was a bit more than I care for. I don't usually associate Kistler with overly oaked wines. Maybe just this bottle. It was good, I enjoyed it. Much, much better on the 3rd day after it tamed down a bit.
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5/24/2020 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light golden yellow in color. Full, forward & aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, lemons/limes & pineapples with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle & minerals, wet stones, hazelnuts, buttery, & a hint of vanilla/toasty oak in the background. Medium bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, lush, ripe fruit flavors of apples, lemons/limes & pineapple with minerals, spices, toasty oak & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but should develop further with additional aging & may merit a higher score (93+) at that time.
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5/18/2020 - SB5784 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Golden, pale yellow hue. Needs to open up. White pear and citrus fruits on the nose. As it opens, oak notes come out (vanilla and butter but not overdone). Palate is silk smooth and full bodied. Ripe crisp apple with lemon and citrus notes. Definitely a sense of oak and some spice. Great mouth feel with terrific and integrated acidity. Cleary this is quite young but it’s delicious. Needs a little time to open. Would even recommend a quick decant if drinking now. Balanced and smooth finish of medium length. Definitely Burgundian in stile. Especially on the palate.
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