2012 Chardonnay Cuvee Cathleen
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Tasting notes
The top cuvée, the 2012 Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen, comes from the Kistler Vineyard and is essentially a selection of the best barrels. As you can imagine, it's similar to the Kistler Vineyard, with many of the same aromatic and flavor components, just slightly more intense and perhaps a trifle longer. Both of these Kistler Vineyard cuvées are spectacular Chardonnays to drink over the next 5-8 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2012 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen emerges from a parcel within Kistler Vineyard planted exclusively with old selections of the Wente clone that confer notable power and breadth, but allied to the intense minerality that is a signature of this site. A dash of new French oak is nicely integrated into the finish. The Cuvée Cathleen is the most structured of the Kistler Chardonnays.
The 2012 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen emerges from the rockiest blocks on the Kistler Vineyard. Today, the Cuvee Cathleen is comapct and tightly wound, but it neverthless impresses for its pulsating energy and minerality. Most of Kistler Vineyard is planted with the Mount Eden clone, but these parcels are planted with Wente clone Chardonnay. The interplay of fruit, acidity and minerality here is compelling.
About the producer
Kistler’s Chardonnays are some of the world’s most sought-after. This cult Californian producer crafts small volumes of exceptional, rich and generous, yet mineral and precise wines. With almost the entire production sold directly to their mailing list, the wines are also incredibly hard to find.