Our last bottle and we are pleased to report that this bottle was also outstanding (see our notes from 8/8/15). However this bottle displayed much more mineral character along with the floral character and dense fruit (no pineapple however). Very long smooth finish. Overall we would say it was similar to a very good aged white burgundy. As a side note: of the 5 bottles which we originally bought on release two were oxidized, one was ok but kind of flat, and the other two were truly outstanding.
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We have poured many 2001 Kistler Chardonnay bottles down the sink due to oxidation over the last 2-3 years. However it is great to say that this 2001 Kistler Vineyard chardonnay is in fantastic shape and is drinking very nicely. Good mineral structure and floral perfume right up front, dense fruit, sort of sweet citrus, pineapple like perhaps, with a long long finish with a smooth buttery, butterscotch, caramel, brown sugar flavor coating the palate. My wife and I both thought this one was memorable.
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Now we are talking ... This was the best bottle of 2001 Kistler that I can remember. Fully mature Chardonnay with nuts, brioche, very concentrated, simply stunning.
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Popped and poured. Medium gold with greenish tinge. Initially rather mute on the nose but with swirling, citrus notes, some oak, emerges, no signs of oxidation. On the palate typical Kistler intensity, lost all its baby fat, with a slightly bitter but very long finish, which could be age or may transform with more air. Pleasant surprise so far for 12 year-old Kistler Chard. With more air the palate develops more richness and the finish improves with a sweet fruit note emerging. Very nice as these can be unpredictable.
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One of the best finishes in recent memory. A beautiful wine that is drinking great. So good it seems to be at it's peak. A previous poster was right on about this wine. It's awesome. Happy to have one bottle left that I will drink over the coming year.
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Deep golden yellow color, nose of smokey butterscotch. This wine is still rocking with the fruit a little more toned down, good acidity with a beautiful buttery caramel finish that goes on and on. 10 year old Kistler Chard drinking beautifully now...bummed this is my last bottle.
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Eye: green tinged yellow. looked gold under fluorescents but paleyellow with clear rim despite its age Nose: smelled faintly oxidized, hint of vanilla, butter with a spiced edge that slips away before I can name it. Tongue: has a tart fruit and no oxidation and the spice and vanilla do not show up Brain: I like it but find it is not as complete as other Kistlers. It probably should be drunk up now. 88-89
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Terrific nose of citrus, lemon, honeysuckle and caramel, the wine has terrific fruit for being 8 years old and has a great oily mouthfeel to it that gives a tremendously long and luscious finish.
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Very light, straw color - almost clear. Surprising for a 8 year old CA chard. We've had many Kistler's with this much age on them, and many of them showed a much more golden color. Not sure why. Nose primarily lemongrass, with a little mineraliness, wet stone and vanilla. Palate was more limestone, with lemongrass, lemon peel. Wet stone on the mid and back palate. Had good acidity, with a pleasant creaminess on the after palate. It seems to be a little disjointed. Not as together as we expected. Perhaps could have used more time? Although Mr. Kistler recommends drinking his wines within 4-6 years of the vintage, we're found some wines that have lived significantly longer (such as this one) and others that really needed to be drunk much sooner.
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Color is still light and showing no browning of maturity Nose equally fresh and the obvious oak-y vanilla well integrated with lemony fruit. There was a distant sea smell in the background. Palate generous fruit integrated with a minerality that echoed the nose. It was so balanced that it drew me back repeatedly.
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A superb showing! Lighter in color than most aged Kistler. Rich, and elegant. Citrus oil, buttered popcorn, intense minerality. Layered complexity. Long elegant finish.
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Just a touch better than the 7/1/08 in every aspect. A little more inviting nose, a little more complex fruit with an even longer and more penetrating finish. This wine has evolved into one of the greatest Kistler Kistler's. Four of the eight diners said it was their wine of the night.
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A little closed in the nose...aromas of minerals, citrus and vanilla oak. Medium-bodied highly focused fruit in the mouth with excellent acidity and a touch of butter in the finish. A very refined Kistler with none of the flamboyance of some of the other vineyards in this vintage. A wine that slowly unveiled its charms as the meal progressed.
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An excellent showing, especially for a 7 year old Kistler! Full and rich and quite well balanced, with loads of orange fruit and rocky character. The length is still very, very long, with quite a bit of deep orange fruit in its example. I'm happy to see my favorite of the vineyards perform so well, even if it has taken years and a few closed bottles along the way.
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unfortunately this was opened with some simple appetizers and cheese as this was one of the better 01 Kistlers I have had...previous other vineyards have maybe not had the greatest acidity, backbone from the slightly warmer year (contrasted with the ton of good 2000 Kistlers I have had). This wine was screaming with aged complexity...flavors of spice, minerality and good structure.
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"Nice" and "full", but lacks that character that I'd usually expect in this bottling. It's full of fruit and stone, has a decent nose and a nice length, and is well balanced, but lacks the usual KV "soul". The mid-palate is a tiny bit hollow, but shows some yellow stone fruit and minerality. Still unevolved.
Try again in 18 months - September 2009?
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Much better than the 2001 Durrell that we had a couple weeks ago which displayed some oxidation. The color was much lighter with a nose of citrus. The palate was like lemon zest, a stone fruit and vanilla with a mineral note.
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Citrus, mineral, chalky, clear lemon peel. Thirty minutes of air did benefit this wine. I don’t think this Kistler is in a good drinking window right now. It seemed restrained, closed and light compared to many other vintages.
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Kistler "Kistler" chardonnays; 6/1/2006-12/31/2006: Compared to last night's 1999 version of this wine, this one is decidely tight and unforgiving. It shows promise - all of the flavors are present and accounted for (more yellow and white fruit than orange; nuts; citrus; a slight minerally edge) but wine just seems shut down. The mouth is a bit tart and stunted, but the length is fine and middle of the road - for a Kistler - not excellent, but not shabby. Hard to believe that this wine "isn't ready", but it doesn't seem that there's any harm in waiting. Try again in a year to see what's up.
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9/28/2016 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
Our last bottle and we are pleased to report that this bottle was also outstanding (see our notes from 8/8/15). However this bottle displayed much more mineral character along with the floral character and dense fruit (no pineapple however). Very long smooth finish. Overall we would say it was similar to a very good aged white burgundy. As a side note: of the 5 bottles which we originally bought on release two were oxidized, one was ok but kind of flat, and the other two were truly outstanding.
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7/31/2016 - KenK Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Almost dead, barely drinkable
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7/31/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Well past its enjoyable drinking window.
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8/8/2015 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
We have poured many 2001 Kistler Chardonnay bottles down the sink due to oxidation over the last 2-3 years. However it is great to say that this 2001 Kistler Vineyard chardonnay is in fantastic shape and is drinking very nicely. Good mineral structure and floral perfume right up front, dense fruit, sort of sweet citrus, pineapple like perhaps, with a long long finish with a smooth buttery, butterscotch, caramel, brown sugar flavor coating the palate. My wife and I both thought this one was memorable.
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12/2/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 95 Points
Now we are talking ... This was the best bottle of 2001 Kistler that I can remember. Fully mature Chardonnay with nuts, brioche, very concentrated, simply stunning.
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10/26/2014 - mwanasheria wrote: 93 Points
My wife says that this was slightly snappier and more mineral than the 2001 Durrell they had alongside with it.
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9/13/2013 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Medium gold with greenish tinge. Initially rather mute on the nose but with swirling, citrus notes, some oak, emerges, no signs of oxidation. On the palate typical Kistler intensity, lost all its baby fat, with a slightly bitter but very long finish, which could be age or may transform with more air. Pleasant surprise so far for 12 year-old Kistler Chard. With more air the palate develops more richness and the finish improves with a sweet fruit note emerging. Very nice as these can be unpredictable.
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1/1/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 96 Points
One of the best finishes in recent memory. A beautiful wine that is drinking great. So good it seems to be at it's peak. A previous poster was right on about this wine. It's awesome. Happy to have one bottle left that I will drink over the coming year.
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10/26/2011 - NY Wino wrote: 98 Points
Deep golden yellow color, nose of smokey butterscotch. This wine is still rocking with the fruit a little more toned down, good acidity with a beautiful buttery caramel finish that goes on and on. 10 year old Kistler Chard drinking beautifully now...bummed this is my last bottle.
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7/6/2011 - mwanasheria wrote: 93 Points
Butter, vanilla, citrus, pineapple, very mineral.
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5/7/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 89 Points
Eye: green tinged yellow. looked gold under fluorescents but paleyellow with clear rim despite its age
Nose: smelled faintly oxidized, hint of vanilla, butter with a spiced edge that slips away before I can name it.
Tongue: has a tart fruit and no oxidation and the spice and vanilla do not show up
Brain: I like it but find it is not as complete as other Kistlers. It probably should be drunk up now. 88-89
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3/28/2010 - poppa wrote:
Cloudy gossamer gold. Now past its prime. Monolithic pineapple note. Energy & lift is gone.
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2/27/2010 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Golden yellow color. Nose and palate somewhat reserved. Still good fruit and acisity, but no where near as intense as last year's bottle.
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12/5/2009 - NY Wino wrote: 95 Points
Terrific nose of citrus, lemon, honeysuckle and caramel, the wine has terrific fruit for being 8 years old and has a great oily mouthfeel to it that gives a tremendously long and luscious finish.
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10/10/2009 - ken-yyz wrote: 92 Points
Still lively and vibrant. Lots of white fruits and character. As always, great texture and you'd never guess that this was an 8 year old CA chard.
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6/12/2009 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
Very similar to the 10/18/08 bottle. The last of three great bottles consumed over the past year... showed no signs of oxidation or fatigue.
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4/10/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
CITRUS IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. VERY CRISP WITH NICE ACIDITY COMPLEX WINE WITH A LONG FINISH.
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2/28/2009 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Very light, straw color - almost clear. Surprising for a 8 year old CA chard. We've had many Kistler's with this much age on them, and many of them showed a much more golden color. Not sure why. Nose primarily lemongrass, with a little mineraliness, wet stone and vanilla. Palate was more limestone, with lemongrass, lemon peel. Wet stone on the mid and back palate. Had good acidity, with a pleasant creaminess on the after palate. It seems to be a little disjointed. Not as together as we expected. Perhaps could have used more time? Although Mr. Kistler recommends drinking his wines within 4-6 years of the vintage, we're found some wines that have lived significantly longer (such as this one) and others that really needed to be drunk much sooner.
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2/17/2009 - VoteferPedro wrote: 95 Points
Color is still light and showing no browning of maturity
Nose equally fresh and the obvious oak-y vanilla well integrated with lemony fruit. There was a distant sea smell in the background.
Palate generous fruit integrated with a minerality that echoed the nose. It was so balanced that it drew me back repeatedly.
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11/18/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 95 Points
A superb showing! Lighter in color than most aged Kistler. Rich, and elegant. Citrus oil, buttered popcorn, intense minerality. Layered complexity. Long elegant finish.
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10/18/2008 - hsacks wrote: 95 Points
Just a touch better than the 7/1/08 in every aspect. A little more inviting nose, a little more complex fruit with an even longer and more penetrating finish. This wine has evolved into one of the greatest Kistler Kistler's. Four of the eight diners said it was their wine of the night.
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7/1/2008 - hsacks wrote: 93 Points
A little closed in the nose...aromas of minerals, citrus and vanilla oak. Medium-bodied highly focused fruit in the mouth with excellent acidity and a touch of butter in the finish. A very refined Kistler with none of the flamboyance of some of the other vineyards in this vintage. A wine that slowly unveiled its charms as the meal progressed.
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6/27/2008 - jbaron wrote: 95 Points
An excellent showing, especially for a 7 year old Kistler! Full and rich and quite well balanced, with loads of orange fruit and rocky character. The length is still very, very long, with quite a bit of deep orange fruit in its example. I'm happy to see my favorite of the vineyards perform so well, even if it has taken years and a few closed bottles along the way.
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6/13/2008 - JBVino wrote:
unfortunately this was opened with some simple appetizers and cheese as this was one of the better 01 Kistlers I have had...previous other vineyards have maybe not had the greatest acidity, backbone from the slightly warmer year (contrasted with the ton of good 2000 Kistlers I have had). This wine was screaming with aged complexity...flavors of spice, minerality and good structure.
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2/11/2008 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Burgs and Bordeaux at Fleming's Steak House (Fleming's Steak House, Palo Alto, California): Slightly cloudy, light yellow color; focused lemon, sweet lemon, ripe grapefruit and mineral nose; very tasty, balanced, lemon and mineral palate with good acidity and creamy texture; long finish 94+ pts.
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2/2/2008 - jbaron wrote: 91 Points
"Nice" and "full", but lacks that character that I'd usually expect in this bottling. It's full of fruit and stone, has a decent nose and a nice length, and is well balanced, but lacks the usual KV "soul". The mid-palate is a tiny bit hollow, but shows some yellow stone fruit and minerality. Still unevolved.
Try again in 18 months - September 2009?
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1/3/2008 - johnleeper wrote: 92 Points
Much better than the 2001 Durrell that we had a couple weeks ago which displayed some oxidation. The color was much lighter with a nose of citrus. The palate was like lemon zest, a stone fruit and vanilla with a mineral note.
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4/9/2007 - mappleton wrote:
st lukes
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2/25/2007 - Mark wrote: 92 Points
Citrus, mineral, chalky, clear lemon peel. Thirty minutes of air did benefit this wine. I don’t think this Kistler is in a good drinking window right now. It seemed restrained, closed and light compared to many other vintages.
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12/9/2006 - etirer wrote:
Fabulous, drank over Thanksgiving weekend
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11/22/2006 - plitton wrote: 91 Points
Unfiltered, cloudy and yellow straw color. Oak and hops. Long drawn out oak finish. Very drinkable.
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9/1/2006 - budman wrote: 94 Points
This was everything that the Vine Hill wasn't.
Awesome citrus notes. Full bodied.
This is a kick-ass wine.
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7/14/2006 - budman wrote: 94 Points
This bottle is really hitting its stride right now. All of the good Kistler traits... citrus, minerality, and an endless finish.
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6/24/2006 - jbaron wrote:
Kistler "Kistler" chardonnays; 6/1/2006-12/31/2006: Compared to last night's 1999 version of this wine, this one is decidely tight and unforgiving. It shows promise - all of the flavors are present and accounted for (more yellow and white fruit than orange; nuts; citrus; a slight minerally edge) but wine just seems shut down. The mouth is a bit tart and stunted, but the length is fine and middle of the road - for a Kistler - not excellent, but not shabby. Hard to believe that this wine "isn't ready", but it doesn't seem that there's any harm in waiting. Try again in a year to see what's up.
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1/14/2006 - brianofthevine wrote: 94 Points
Citrus and mineral notes, long finish, great wine.
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12/31/2005 - Trip Johnson wrote:
Tight, light vanilla oak, some nice minerality and buttered popcorn flavors. 93 points.
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9/24/2005 - KellyW wrote: 93 Points
Very concentrated nose of ripe fruits. Dense on the palate with some lemon curd and tropical fruits. Good minerality and persistence.
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3/27/2005 - Mike V wrote: 92 Points
Lovely, but should hold for at least another year
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