Below you will find a list of ratings and reviews of our current wines. You can also see ratings for our previously released wines here.
Robert Parker’s reviews for Spring 2012
Not only have the 2008s lived up to or exceeded their potential from last year’s barrel tastings, the 2009s appear to be fabulous as well. Of course, 2008 was a much more challenging vintage and 2009 was a cool year, much like 2005, with slightly lower alcohols and higher yields than the short crop of 2008. All of the 2009 Chardonnays finished with around 14+% alcohol levels and had more minerality than usual. Kistler’s bottled 2008s were all concentrated.
2009 Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 92-94
A new offering from Kistler is the 2009 Chardonnay Trenton Road House, a parcel of vines across from the famed Ritchie Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. It reveals classic notes of white peaches, honeysuckle, caramelized hazelnuts and citrus in a full-bodied, exotic, rich style.
2009 Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley – 93-95
The similarly styled, full bodied 2009 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard offers pear, buttered citrus, lemon oil and wet stone characteristics.
2009 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros – 93-95
From one of my favorite sites, the 2009 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard offers lots of honeyed citrus, lemon oil, hazelnut and orange rind notes in its smoky, full-bodied, exotic style. The Hyde cuvée seems more obviously Californian than the Durell or McCrea.
2009 Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Valley – 96-98
2009 Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen Chardonnay Sonoma Valley – 98-100
The spectacular 2009 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard rivals the 2009 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen (a selection of the best barrels). Both of these 2009s reveal abundant aromas of buttered citrus, crushed rock, brioche, honeysuckle, orange rind and citrus oil. They are full-bodied with zesty acidity and purity and the oak is pushed well to the background.
2009 Occidental Station Vineyard Cuvée Catherine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 95-98
The stunning 2009 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvée Catherine possesses a deeper ruby color in addition to a sweet bouquet of boysenberries, raspberries, black cherries, forest floor and spring flowers. This rich-full-bodied, silky Pinot should drink well for a decade or more.
2009 Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 94-97
Nearly as good, the 2009 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth offers sweet notes of jammy strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, black cherries and foresty characteristics. This complex, full-bodied Pinot has beautiful fruit, good acids and a long finish. It, too, should drink nicely for a decade.