Tasted at Indie Wine and Beer Bar on Green Street in San Francisco. I think the two notes from tasters in 2022 are spot-on, except I do not agree this has lost its Chardonnay character. Palate less developed than the nose. At 16, I think this has held up admirably. Rare treat to taste a wine this old from a by-the-glass menu. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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toasty bruised apple. Medium acid. Nutty. Old and honeyed. A bit bitter. Alcohol 14%? (14.1%). Feels advanced and a bit like it’s lost Chardonnay identity.
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Golden hued with some particulate floaters which isn’t surprising given the age and that it’s unfined and unfiltered at bottling. Baked apple, a little honey, butterscotch, and nutty sherry notes.
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Somewhat scary brownish yellow color. Aromas of quince, minerals and white flowers. Ripe, nicely balanced fruit in the mouth with very good depth and excellent length. Very integrated and silky on the palate. Another surpring Kistler Chardonnay. More Burgundy than California, more lithe than powerful. Still reasonably fresh but drink up!
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Deep gold, slightly hazy color. Kept this too long. More like a dry sauternes. Caramel and tropical fruit, with long, toasty finish. Interesting and good, but time to drink up.
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Pretty dark golden color with some notes of spoiling peaches, white pepper and soft spice on the nose. On the palate, this has very nice fruit - peaches and lemons but the balance could be better with a tad more brightness. Nice chardonnay but not at this price.
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Way, way better than the previous bottle last month. Previous bottle was definitely oxidized. There was a vintage or two from these Kistler chards where I seemed to have quite a bit of bottle variation and/or an oxidizing issue. It's been a while, but that is my recollection. This bottle had a deep golden color. Not dark, but deep. Classic Kistler chard nose with some tropical fruit overtones. Palate tougher to get a handle on. A bit hot with tons of acidity.
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Darkish yellow color. Nose and palate of a tired wine. Not bad, or really past, but more bottle age that I expected. Some people will like this more than me, just not my style. I should have consumed earlier.
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Golden straw color. Butterscotch, and apple flavors with a viscid mouthfeel and minearality in the middle. It has a soft finish and was medium in length.
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Fall 2013 Wine Dinner (CL): The wine seemed flat on this night. It was consumed alongside a Herb Lamb SB and a Rivers Marie Chard and it was a distant 3rd to those two. What little flavor their seemed to be was dominated by oak and the normal lush, creamy fruit I find in Kistler was absent.
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Rich, ripe Cali chardonnay. Yes it is big, with plenty of oak and butter. Nicely balanced with crisp lemon and citrus acidity. There is just the slightest hint of ripe Granny Smith apple in the background which makes me worried that this is starting to obtain some oxidative notes. It is tough to imagine that this is going to evolve in any positive manner- drink up.
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Layers of butterscotch and honey with zesty tropical fruits coating the palette. Everything seemingly in correct proportion with wonderful complexity and a true combination of power and finesse. Big but fresh. One of the best Cal chards I have had.
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Light pale yellow, slightly grumsy (unfiltered); pear, oak; very flavoury, intense, good acidity cutting through the fatness; long lingering aftertaste
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Not sure how you could ask for more from a Cali Chardonnay. Huge flavors of lemon tart, pineapple, and citrus oil. Underlining this are hints of vanilla oakiness and minerality. Crisp acidity and butter battle out the finish. Very, very nice.
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Typical cloudy unfiltered, rich yellow colour. The wood is well integrated and it has a fat, fruity nose with very little butter and toast. The nose is more grilled corncobs, creme brulee and caramelized fruit. Medium bodied, with a refreshing acidity. Everyone guessed California Chardonnay of course (Kistler is one of the best together with Ridge Monte Bello in my opinion, but there is no mistaking, it never taste/smell like Burgundy). I liked the finish which was pretty long and I think this wine will keep well for up to 10 years actually.
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Drank at Home Bistro in Boystown. Was fantastic with Bosc pear salad. Lovely on it's own. Golden yellow lots of minerality. Apple or pear quite subtle,has the sanguinous quality I don't know the word for. Steel?
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Dark yellow color. Pear, apple and nut on the nose. Mouth puckering, velvety, confirming nose, long finish. Buttery (in a good way) with time. Still young and should keep well.
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Classic Kistler. Fairly full bodied, with plenty of butter and oak. The minerality and crisp acidity on the finish differentiate this from the average flabby Cali chardonnay.
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Yellow colour; nose of honey, butter, ligth flowers; hint of oak, soft, smooth texture, sweet, seems a bit closed. Nose clearly better. Had expected it to be more oppulent; slightly lean, little aftertaste, sweetish without being too much; little aftertaste, lacks a bit of depth.
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A big rich Chardonnay with a nice mouth feel, lemon fruit and buttery, but a bit more oak then I was expecting and would have liked. Drank this at a family dinner after drinking several red wines so I will not rate it.
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1/12/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at Indie Wine and Beer Bar on Green Street in San Francisco. I think the two notes from tasters in 2022 are spot-on, except I do not agree this has lost its Chardonnay character. Palate less developed than the nose. At 16, I think this has held up admirably. Rare treat to taste a wine this old from a by-the-glass menu. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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12/31/2022 - RajivAyyangar wrote:
toasty bruised apple. Medium acid. Nutty. Old and honeyed. A bit bitter. Alcohol 14%? (14.1%). Feels advanced and a bit like it’s lost Chardonnay identity.
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10/23/2022 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 90 Points
Golden hued with some particulate floaters which isn’t surprising given the age and that it’s unfined and unfiltered at bottling.
Baked apple, a little honey, butterscotch, and nutty sherry notes.
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5/15/2020 - VinoDiver wrote: flawed
oxidised... Vinegar.
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1/13/2018 - hanratty21 wrote: 91 Points
On the tail end but still had some life in it. Quince, pear and wet stone. Solid, but definitely past it's prime.
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5/21/2017 - hsacks wrote: 88 Points
Similar appearance to the 3/23/17 bottle but more oxidized. Still pleasurable with spicy shrimp but past peak.
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3/23/2017 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Somewhat scary brownish yellow color. Aromas of quince, minerals and white flowers. Ripe, nicely balanced fruit in the mouth with very good depth and excellent length. Very integrated and silky on the palate. Another surpring Kistler Chardonnay. More Burgundy than California, more lithe than powerful. Still reasonably fresh but drink up!
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4/17/2016 - Mike V wrote: flawed
oxidized
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4/2/2016 - stoneb wrote: 88 Points
Deep gold, slightly hazy color. Kept this too long. More like a dry sauternes. Caramel and tropical fruit, with long, toasty finish. Interesting and good, but time to drink up.
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3/6/2016 - rpenn77 wrote: flawed
I should've drank it sooner
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2/28/2016 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty dark golden color with some notes of spoiling peaches, white pepper and soft spice on the nose. On the palate, this has very nice fruit - peaches and lemons but the balance could be better with a tad more brightness. Nice chardonnay but not at this price.
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9/12/2015 - lebo9968@gmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Way, way better than the previous bottle last month. Previous bottle was definitely oxidized. There was a vintage or two from these Kistler chards where I seemed to have quite a bit of bottle variation and/or an oxidizing issue. It's been a while, but that is my recollection. This bottle had a deep golden color. Not dark, but deep. Classic Kistler chard nose with some tropical fruit overtones. Palate tougher to get a handle on. A bit hot with tons of acidity.
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8/8/2015 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
Darkish yellow color. Nose and palate of a tired wine. Not bad, or really past, but more bottle age that I expected. Some people will like this more than me, just not my style. I should have consumed earlier.
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8/1/2015 - Valbonne Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very light nose - flower and vanilla.
Stone fruit. Mineral.
Maybe fading a bit at this point.
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11/15/2014 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 91 Points
Golden straw color. Butterscotch, and apple flavors with a viscid mouthfeel and minearality in the middle. It has a soft finish and was medium in length.
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10/12/2013 - VinoDiver wrote: 87 Points
Fall 2013 Wine Dinner (CL): The wine seemed flat on this night. It was consumed alongside a Herb Lamb SB and a Rivers Marie Chard and it was a distant 3rd to those two. What little flavor their seemed to be was dominated by oak and the normal lush, creamy fruit I find in Kistler was absent.
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6/19/2013 - briquette wrote: 95 Points
Tasting really well
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6/9/2013 - Cali Fan wrote: 93 Points
Elegant, floral, hints of apricot. Great on a warm day
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3/18/2013 - JDRFoster wrote: 93 Points
Toasted brioche, citrus zest, bits of tropical fruit with a saline/iodine minerality. Great balance, medium finish. Excellent.
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1/18/2013 - dcwino wrote: 90 Points
1990 Bordeaux dinner with Latour, Beausejour Duffau, Montrose and etc (Capital Grille Tysons, VA): Ripe yellow fruits, lemon curd, butter, vanilla, a hint of limestone and oak. Warm ripe fruits, a hint of mineral expression, lacking acidity and slightly bitter finish. It is slightly advanced and a bit cloying. Excellent provenance.
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6/3/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Rich, ripe Cali chardonnay. Yes it is big, with plenty of oak and butter. Nicely balanced with crisp lemon and citrus acidity. There is just the slightest hint of ripe Granny Smith apple in the background which makes me worried that this is starting to obtain some oxidative notes. It is tough to imagine that this is going to evolve in any positive manner- drink up.
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3/18/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 91 Points
BBQ party for Aidan's SPCC friends & parents (Roof): fat and round. seems more accelerated than previous bottles with hints of oxidation. time to drink up.
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12/27/2011 - jdlee1232 wrote: 90 Points
A very muted nose; a full palate but ultimately a little short of expectations
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4/17/2011 - overhill wrote: 94 Points
Layers of butterscotch and honey with zesty tropical fruits coating the palette. Everything seemingly in correct proportion with wonderful complexity and a true combination of power and finesse. Big but fresh. One of the best Cal chards I have had.
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4/15/2011 - danielbleier wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with prior notes...what a big bruiser.
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4/8/2011 - jasonkle wrote: 93 Points
I think this was actually the 2008. Good stuff though.
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2/19/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 93 Points
great balance. nothing over the top. drinks like a top meursault - crisp and zesty with honeyed minerals and notes of toast and vanilla.
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2/18/2011 - mwanasheria wrote: 91 Points
Butter and nuts. Lemon and citrus are quite present, long finish.
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1/30/2011 - Miceri wrote: 91 Points
Light pale yellow, slightly grumsy (unfiltered); pear, oak; very flavoury, intense, good acidity cutting through the fatness; long lingering aftertaste
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1/29/2011 - bgriffi1 wrote: 93 Points
Honey with nice acidity
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12/31/2010 - bgriffi1 wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this. bit more muted than some of the other Kistler's but still showing very good balance.
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11/13/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 95 Points
Not sure how you could ask for more from a Cali Chardonnay. Huge flavors of lemon tart, pineapple, and citrus oil. Underlining this are hints of vanilla oakiness and minerality. Crisp acidity and butter battle out the finish. Very, very nice.
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8/30/2010 - BarbaraW wrote:
Still very young.
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6/18/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Better than last bottle and WOTN with a group of primarily red drinkers. Very balanced, not over the top in any aspect. Great stuff.
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5/16/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 91 Points
Buttery, citrus, great length.
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3/28/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 89 Points
Typical Kistler nose of butter, toast, oak and mineral. Finish a little closed and tight. Will no doubt improve given a couple more years.
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2/5/2010 - Meganruth1 wrote: 91 Points
Butterscotch and blood. Needs food.
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2/3/2010 - UTPK wrote:
Typical cloudy unfiltered, rich yellow colour. The wood is well integrated and it has a fat, fruity nose with very little butter and toast. The nose is more grilled corncobs, creme brulee and caramelized fruit. Medium bodied, with a refreshing acidity. Everyone guessed California Chardonnay of course (Kistler is one of the best together with Ridge Monte Bello in my opinion, but there is no mistaking, it never taste/smell like Burgundy). I liked the finish which was pretty long and I think this wine will keep well for up to 10 years actually.
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1/24/2010 - Meganruth1 wrote: 91 Points
Drank at Home Bistro in Boystown. Was fantastic with Bosc pear salad. Lovely on it's own. Golden yellow lots of minerality. Apple or pear quite subtle,has the sanguinous quality I don't know the word for. Steel?
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1/19/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 93 Points
Long finish, lemon and oak are dominant, should keep for some time.
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1/19/2010 - ms808 wrote: 91 Points
Dark yellow color. Pear, apple and nut on the nose. Mouth puckering, velvety, confirming nose, long finish. Buttery (in a good way) with time. Still young and should keep well.
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1/2/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Classic Kistler. Fairly full bodied, with plenty of butter and oak. The minerality and crisp acidity on the finish differentiate this from the average flabby Cali chardonnay.
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1/2/2010 - Miceri wrote: 90 Points
Yellow colour; nose of honey, butter, ligth flowers; hint of oak, soft, smooth texture, sweet, seems a bit closed. Nose clearly better. Had expected it to be more oppulent; slightly lean, little aftertaste, sweetish without being too much; little aftertaste, lacks a bit of depth.
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12/27/2009 - dferreir wrote: 94 Points
wonderful
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11/27/2009 - Bob in NC wrote:
A big rich Chardonnay with a nice mouth feel, lemon fruit and buttery, but a bit more oak then I was expecting and would have liked. Drank this at a family dinner after drinking several red wines so I will not rate it.
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