Press

• Spring 2012

  • 2009 Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    96
    The 2009 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard, on the other hand, bursts onto the palate with endless layers of white peaches, apricots and white flowers. The deep texture turns delicate and haunting on the finish. There is an exotic, floral note that is very much unique to this bottling that Steve Kistler ascribes to the Mt. Eden and Wente selections planted on this site. This is a marvelously complete, stunning wine. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

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    2009 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    96
    The 2009 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is one of the most complete wines in this lineup. It boasts extraordinary class and elegance from start to finish. All of the elements are in the right place in this multi-dimensional, textured Chardonnay. Pineapple, mango, spices, white flowers and creme brulee are some of the many nuances that inform the understated, polished finish. This striking wine is all about nuance and transparency. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 

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    2009 Kistler Cuvée Cathleen Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95
    The 2009 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen, from Wente clones, saturates the palate with honey, yellow flowers, marzipan, tangerine and apricots. It possesses stunning depth and intensity, along with persistent saline notes that add lift on the creamy, expansive finish. The Cuvee Cathleen is considerably richer than the straight Kistler Vineyard. Both are striking; which one readers ultimately prefer is strictly personal preference. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

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    2009 Trenton Road House Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    96
    The 2009 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is one of the more intense wines in the lineup. The Trenton Road House is all about textural power and depth. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy the richer style of California Chardonnay. Layers of fruit build to an explosive finish that won’t be denied, yet the wine turns intensely mineral, pointed and multi-dimensional with time in the glass. This is another great showing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 

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    2009 Vine Hill Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    93
    The 2009 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard comes across a bit inward and less expressive than the other wines in the collection. Scents of lemon, almonds and pastry emerge from the glass. The overall impression is of a small-scaled wine that, while quite pretty, lacks the visceral thrill of the top wines here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 

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    2009 Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth Pinot Noir

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95+
    The 2009 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvee Elizabeth comes across as a bit firmer and less expressive than the Cuvee Catherine. There is a salty, saline quality that runs through the fruit in this powerful, structured wine. Waves of fruit crescendo on the explosive finish. This is a dazzling Pinot Noir, but it will require at least another year or two in bottle to reveal its pedigree. I loved it. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. 

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    2009 Occidental Station Cuvée Catherine Pinot Noir

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    97
    The 2009 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvee Catherine is flat-out beautiful. All of the elements are in the right place in this majestic, towering Pinot. Layers of fruit emerge gracefully in a wine that seems to never end. The finest, silkiest of tannins frame the fruit through to the exceptional, sensual finish. This kaleidoscopic, marvelously complete wine is a stunning effort from Steve Kistler and his team. The wine continues to open up in the glass in a fabulous display of class and elegance. I can hardly wait to own this extraordinary Pinot. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. 

• Fall 2011

  • 2009 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    96+
    The 2009 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard bursts onto the palate with waves of fruit. This is yet another dazzling wine from Kistler endowed with tremendous depth, detail and classiness. Smoke, crushed rocks and apricots are woven into the fabric of this seamless showstopper. The creamy, expansive finish makes it hard to resist a second taste. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 

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    2009 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    94
    The 2009 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is impeccable from start to finish. Fresh pastry crust, lemon, spices and vanilla are some of the many nuances that flow from this subtle, totally refined wine. This is all understated class and elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

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    2009 Stone Flat Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95
    The 2009 Chardonnay Parmelee-Hill Stone Flat Vineyard is one of the more structured, mineral-driven wines in this lineup. It shows marvelous focus and length in an energetic style that is immensely appealing. This head-spinning Chardonnay boasts tremendous integration of fruit, acidity and overall textural elegance. Give it another year or so in bottle and enjoy it over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. 

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    2009 Silver Belt Cuvée Natalie Pinot Noir

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95
    The 2009 Pinot Noir Silver Belt Cuvee Natalie is a deep, dense wine imbued with black cherries, spices, violets, mint and crushed rocks. It possesses stunning depth and richness, all supported by a persistent vein of minerality that gives the wine its focus and energy. The Cuvee Natalie is pure, powerful and simply a beauty to behold in the glass. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. 

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    2009 Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95
    The 2009 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard bursts from the glass with an exotic array of sweet red fruit, flowers, licorice and spices. It is a dazzling, totally beguiling wine that impresses for its sheer grace and classiness. A subtle yet precise saline-infused finish leaves a lasting impression. This is the most approachable and complete of the 2009 Kistler Pinots. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. 

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    2009 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    96
    The 2009 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch fleshes out beautifully on the mid-palate with layers of expressive, radiant fruit. The wine finds its minerality and center on the mid-palate. Apricots, pears, flowers and subtle, darker hints of earthiness come to life on the finish. This is a very complete, beguiling Chardonnay loaded with complexity and sheer class. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 

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    2009 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay

    Antonio Galloni
    The Wine Advocate
    95
    The 2009 Chardonnay Durrell Vineyard shows the more tropical, lush side of Chardonnay. There is plenty of underlying minerality to provide support. Layers of fruit build towards the effortless, gracious finish. The Durell can be enjoyed today or cellared for a handful of years. Here, too, the balance of fruit, acidity and structure is compelling. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.