2008 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Greenish gold. Pungent herbs, nectarine, lemon pith and iodine on the nose. Dense, sappy and savory, with a distinctly spicy quality to its pit and orchard fruit flavors. A serious, densely packed chardonnay that shows zero easy sweetness. Finishes firm, stony and dry, with resonating spiciness and superb length.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The least expressive and exuberant wine of this group, the 2008 Chardonnay Parmelee Hill Stone Flat Vineyard has shut down more than its siblings and is tighter and less exuberant, but it exhibits super intensity. Given how well all these wines performed, I am not surprised that one or two bottles seemed more restrained and muted than others. 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.