Kistler 2023 Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma

Kistler Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.

95+ Points Robert Parker:  "The Kistler 2023 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard has slowly unfurling scents of toast, matchstick, honey, spice and a core of peachy fruit. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and refined with intense, softly honeyed flavors and a luxe, silky texture. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar."

...the single-vineyard wines all represent much smaller quantities of wine. There have been several noticeable changes in the Kistler wines over the last few years, as they are certainly picking the Pinot Noir at an earlier date and going for less extraction, more fragrance and delicacy. The Chardonnays are still powerful wines but they have backed off the new oak to about 40%. (About 10 years ago, it was around 60%.) Other than that they are still potent and rich Chardonnays that are meant to be drunk in their first 4-6 years of life. It is my experience that aging Kistler wine has not been generally as successful as I would have hoped."