1999 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The astonishing 1999 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard tastes like a grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet or premier cru Meursault-Perrieres given its liquid minerality, and extraordinary nose of honeysuckle/tropical fruits. It is full-bodied, with exceptional delineation for a wine of such size. This extraordinary Chardonnay marries unbridled power and richness with uncanny elegance and precision. This is a Chardonnay of great stature as well as majesty. It should drink well for 7-8 years. Steve Kistler and his sidekick, Mark Bixler, feel that the key to making top quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 2000 (an extremely cold year with higher acids) was patience. Some years the flavors come early, and in other years they are much later. Tel. (707) 823-5603; fax (707) 823-6709
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Pale yellow color. Sulfidey aromas of dried fruits and minerals. Very ripe, dense and chewy; a wine of terrific richness and sweetness of fruit, nicely framed by firm underlying minerality. Very long on the aftertaste.
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.