Kistler Vineyards - Fall 2010 Release

The Fall 2010 Kistler release hit the mailbox today, and as always it is one to look forward to.  We absoluely love their chardonnay, and especially their pinot noir, as they are true pleasures to drink, with awesome nuances of Burgundy!

As always, we were allocated more than we can take, so if any of he locals are interested, drop me a line and let me know.  We'll probably take a few eachof the chardonnay, and a couple of each pinot noir.  Pricing per bottle statyed the same this year, and the chardonnay's have been allocated at $75 per bottle, and there are 5 different chards on this release.  They are all 2008's, and they are postd below along with Robert Parker's notes.

There are also 2 pinot noir this release, the 2008 Sonoma Coast at $80, as well as the Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvee Natalie Sonoma Coast at $90 per.  Notes on those listed below as well, along with the number of bottles we were allocated:

Robert Parker’s reviews for Fall 2010

2008 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain – 93-95  (16 bottle allocation)  Minerality is present in the tighter knit, but full-bodied, stunningly rich 2008 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard. This Chablis-like offering reveals abundant orange and citrus blossom characteristics intermixed with a crushed rock/wet stone note, super texture and density, and a strong, powerful finish with both elegance and substance.

2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 91-93  (6 bottle allocation)  The 2008 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch offers aromas of nectarines, hazelnuts, and honeyed pineapple, a ripe, medium to full-bodied style, good acidity, a subtle smoky oak note in the background, terrific fruit, and serious levels of concentration.

2008 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 92-94  (16 bottle allocation)  Another Chablis-like effort (and a grand cru one at that) is the 2008 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard. An intense minerality is accompanied by copious aromas of lemon oil, white peach, quince, and white currant offered in a full-bodied, fresh style.

2008 Parmelee-Hill Vineyard Stone Flat Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 93-95  (6 bottle allocation)  The elegant, fresh, medium to full-bodied, intense 2008 Chardonnay Parmelee Hill Stone Flat Vineyard possesses notes of white currants, orange blossoms, nectarines, and white peaches with subtle hints of smoke and oak in the background. It reveals good acidity, abundant richness, and impressive purity as well as texture. It should drink well for 7-8 years.

2008 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros – 92-94  (6 bottle allocation)  The more open-knit, All American 2008 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard exhibits tropical fruit and smoky hazelnuts in its distinctively California personality.

2008 Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 91-93  (12 bottle allocation)  The 2008 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard (made from a Calera clone) exhibits a dark ruby hue as well as notes of plums, blueberries, brioche, flowers, raspberries, and pomegranate. Medium-bodied, fresh, and lively, it should drink nicely for a decade.

2008 Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvée Natalie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 91-94  (6 bottle allocation)  Made primarily from the Swan clone, the 2008 Pinot Noir Cuvée Natalie Silver Belt reveals copious raspberry, cherry, spice box, earth, tobacco leaf, and forest floor characteristics in its seductive, velvety-textured, full-bodied personality . It possesses a feminine quality reminiscent of a Chambolle-Musigny from Burgundy. It, too, should drink well for a decade.

This will be another great release that we look forward to, and to our local friends, if you are interested in a few bottles, drop me an e-mail and let me know!  We're more than happy to share a few of the bottles we were allocated, as there is plenty of wine to go around!  Cheers!

1992 Kistler Pinot Noir McCrea Vineyard

Who would have thought that this bottle had any fruit left in it whatsoever? I surely did not, but what a pleasant surprise. This was popped and poured tonight at Oliver - A Bistro in Bordentown. Upon opening, I cannot tell you how worried I was that this bottle was not going to be pleasant in the least. The cork came out in about 30 pieces, but regardless of how many pieces it was in, and how long it took to get it out, the cork did it's job, and the wine was still a pleasure to drink. Upon first pour, it looked as though there was a little bricking in the glass. I've never seen this in a pinot, but it is more common in older Bordeaux. Upon first smell, the nose was pretty muted, and I expected the worst. I thought for sure there would be some vinegar on the nose, with no fruit, but I was wrong. The nose had some floral notes, and was predominantly cherry. Tiny hints of blackberry and raspberry were there, but you really had to concentrate hard to pull them out of the mix.

The palate was a little muted at first, but by the time we finished the first half pour, this wine was in its perfect drinking window...at least for this particular wine a this particular moment. Ideally, I would guess that the perfect drinking window for this would have been sometime between 1999 and 2003. There was however a lot of cherry on the palate, and this wine really reminded me us of a cross between the 2004 Sanford, and the Benton Lane pinot noir. Seeing as this is a Kistler, that is not necessarily a good thing, but we were really expecting the worst.

Regardless, this was a very enjoyable wine, and the most aged pinot noir we have had to date. It had a smooth finish, with no tannin whatsoever, and a very pleasant after taste making it worthy of 92 points. This wine just proves that Kistler is produced for the long haul. Cheers!

RELEASE ALERT - Kistler Vineyards Fall 2008 Release

It's with much eager anticipation that the Fall 2008 Kistler Release is announced, and they are taking orders. The Fall releases for 2008 include: 2006 McCrea Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay - “The 2006 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard exhibits a light gold/green hue along with aromas of stone fruits, honey, orange zest (or is it tangerine?), and subtle wood spices. Full-bodied with beautiful texture as well as purity, and a long finish, it should drink well for 5-7 years. Green-tinged pale yellow. Classic Chablis nose featuring minerals, roasted grain, and a faint suggestion of tangerine skin. Richer than normal with loads of extract, but with a distinctly mineral spine that maintains the wine’s shape and stony precision. Delicious now.” 93-94 points. $75 Allocated 24 2006 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay - “The 2006 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is structured and tannic, with more acidity, and a leaner, more backward personality with a chalky character. White currant, hazelnut, and wood spice notes are present in this medium to full-bodied white. Green-tinged pale yellow. Pungent, leesy bouquet combines toasted grains, marzipan, brown spices, and minerals. Deeply concentrated but precise. Finishes with mouthfilling pit fruit flavors energized by a firm mineralilty and complex sulfides. Delicious now.” 92-94 points $75 Allocated 24 2006 Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay - “Always dominated by crushed rock and a liquid minerality component, it also possesses notes of lemon oil, brioche, white currants, white peaches, and a lemon custard-like character. Full-bodied with beautiful subtlety, zesty acidity, and a long finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-7 years. Green-tinged yellow. Distinctly pungent, soil-inflected chardonnay. A vibrant, tightly-wound wine densely packed and powerfully mineral on the palate. Brisk acids frame long, stony finish. Delicious now.” 94-96 points $75 Allocated 8 2006 Kistler Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Inky purple. Vividly perfumed, primary aromas featuring cassis, blueberry, violet, and graphite. Deeply concentrated and precise with terrific innermouth energy and freshness. Finishes with a captivating wildness and considerable soil character. Delicious now. $80 Allocated 8 If anyone is interested, we're not going to take them all. We're in for 1 each of the chards, and 3 pinot, so that leaves a bunch of wine up for the taking. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you're interested. These wines will ship in November 2008. Cheers!