2018 Kistler Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard Parmalee Hill
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is delicate on the nose, slowly revealing singular scents of lemon blossoms, white peaches, oyster shell and fresh herbs with a honey-nut undercurrent. The palate is equally delineated and pure but concentrated, offering flinty, citrus-laced fruits with an energetic acidic spine and long, minerally finish.
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is creamy, ample and super-expressive. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, dried flowers and hazelnut all grace this beautifully layered Chardonnay from Kistler. The freshness of the year really comes through on the finish as floral notes gain in intensity with time in the glass. This is such a complete, gorgeous wine. The Stone Flat emerges from blocks that are now considered part of the Durell Vineyard. It is fascinating to taste the Stone Flat and the Durell together. One of the differences between the two parcels is the choice of rootstocks, with 420a, a devigorating rootstock, used here.
The 2018 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard comes from a site just 30 feet from the Durell Vineyard, yet this cuvée emerges all from the 420a rootstock, which has less potassium uptake and generally yields a lower pH, slightly more acidic wine. This 2018 offers a more perfumed, pretty bouquet of lemon zest, honeysuckle, white flowers, and a terrific sense of minerality. Playing in the more medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a great mid-palate, concentrated fruit, bright acidity, and a classy, lengthy finish. It's a stunner that's going to evolve for 10-15 years.
The 2018 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is creamy, ample and super-expressive. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, dried flowers and hazelnut all grace this beautifully layered Chardonnay from Kistler. The freshness of the year really comes through on the finish as floral notes gain in intensity with time in the glass. This is such a complete, gorgeous wine. The Stone Flat emerges from blocks that are now considered part of the Durell Vineyard. It is fascinating to taste the Stone Flat and the Durell together. One of the differences between the two parcels is the choice of rootstocks, with 420a, a devigorating rootstock, used here.
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.