2023 Laguna Ridge Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Tasted from magnum, the 2023 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard opens with an alluring flintiness that gives way to lemon custard, white orchard fruits, pie crust and acacia. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet light on its feet with detailed, mineral-driven flavors and racy acidity, and it has a very long, elegant finish. It should be long lived in the cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A deeper golden yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is only made in magnums. With notes of chamomile, apples, white peach, lime candy, and orange blossom, It has both density and energy on the palate, with a rich, almost tannin-like chalky texture and a warming finish. Drink: 2025-2037. Located in the Russian River Valley, Kistler is led today by winemaker Jason Kesner, who continues the long tradition of working from a singular clone of Chardonnay with Burgundian lineage that Steve Kistler, now of Occidental Wines, began in the 1980s. The wines for this report were tasted at the winery this spring.
The 2023 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge is superb. The magnum format certainly plays a role. Readers will find a vertical, explosive Chardonnay endowed with impressive energy. Crushed rocks, slate, salt and dried flowers lift a core of chiseled citrus fruit. This vibrant, nervy Chardonnay should start to flesh out nicely with a few years in bottle.
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.