2003 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Medium yellow. Smoky, musky nose features complex sulfides, minerals and nuts; funky in a positive way. Fat, dense, round and sweet but with lovely lightness of touch. The apricot and nut oil flavors are broad and rather powerful, yet at the same time almost magically weightless. Finishes with sneaky persistence and lovely grip. Kistler pointed out that the Hyde, Hudson and Durell vineyards are all within a half-mile of one another.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Sophisticated yet somewhat closed aromatically is the 2003 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard. This can be a show stopper, so I was surprised that it didn’t jump from the glass. Orange blossom, crushed rock, lemon zest, and tropical fruit all make an appearance in this impeccably well-made, medium to full-bodied wine that is more generous in the mouth than the reticent aromatics suggest. It should drink well for 5-7 years. (Release date 3/06) 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.