2020 Kistler Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Formerly RRV
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is the most accessible wine in this flight of Chardonnays. Tropical accents meld into orange confit, hazelnut, butter and sweet spice. The flavors are pretty intense, and yet the 2021 remains wonderfully light on its feet, with pretty floral top notes that add tons of charm and sheer appeal. (AG)
Critic scores
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Intense aromas of ripe apple, oyster shell, pie crust dough, and lemon rind. Some candied apple and flint. It’s medium-bodied with lovely fruit and medium phenolics that hold it all together.
The 2020 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is a soft, easygoing wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. White orchard fruit, mint, spice and slate give the 2020 lovely energy to play off its mid-weight structure. The Dutton Ranch is not terribly complex, but it is well balanced and quite tasty. Pretty floral accents lift the finish.
The 2020 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch offers aromas of fresh pineapple, ripe citrus, and lemon balm, followed by a honeyed and layered richness on the palate, with custardy texture, great purity, and concentration. This is a pleasurable wine to drink over the next 10 years.
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.