2008 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch
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Tasting notes
Vivid gold. High-pitched, spicy aromas of lemon and lime, with deeper pear and melon qualities and a touch of toasty lees. Supple and creamy on entry, then more taut in the mid-palate, offering juicy melon and orchard fruit flavors firmed by a bitter citrus note. A kick of peppery spice adds cut to the long, impressively focused finish. This wine marks the 30th vintage for this bottling at Kistler.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Intense hazelnut, tropical fruit, honeyed melon, nut and minerally characteristics jump from the glass of the more restrained, light gold/greenish-colored 2008 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch. Not only have the 2008s lived up to or exceeded their potential from last year’s barrel tastings, the 2009s appear to be fabulous as well. Of course, 2008 was a much more challenging vintage and 2009 was a cool year, much like 2005, with slightly lower alcohols and higher yields than the short crop of 2008. All of the 2009 Chardonnays finished with around 14+% alcohol levels and had more minerality than usual. Kistler’s bottled 2008s were all concentrated. The 2008 Chardonnays have the potential to last even longer than the 2009s given the fact that they are even more concentrated than those wines. Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709
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.