1996 Chardonnay Durell Vineyards
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Tasting notes
The 1996 Chardonnay Durell offers citrusy, tropical fruit, and mineral aromas, medium body, excellent richness, and a long, tangy, tight but promising finish. It should unfold with another 1-2 years of bottle age, and last for 5-6 years. All the Kistler Chardonnays are made in a Burgundian manner. They are barrel-fermented, given full malolactic fermentation, extensive lees stirring, racked out of their barrels following a year's cask aging, and allowed to settle in tank until bottling, which usually occurs without any fining or filtration. All of the wines reviewed in this segment were tasted from tank as they were awaiting bottling early next year. Readers should recognize that Kistler's policy is to sell most of their production directly to consumers and restaurants. Readers who live in states that permit direct shipment of California wines should be sure and get on the winery's mailing list. Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Brighter yellow-gold. Very complex, Burgundian aromas of roasted nuts, minerals, lemon candy, smoke and faint sulfides; conveys a strong impression of soil character. Very rich but unevolved in the mouth, with plenty of acidity. Slightly aggressive on the finish today, perhaps because there a bit less finishing flesh, but long and subtle. The yield here was about three tons per acre, vs. two for the McCrea.
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.