2016 Kistler Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard Parmalee Hill
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard offers notable density while retaining its mid-weight feel and sense of structure. Orchard fruit, dried pear, dried flowers chamomile, smoke and lemon confit add shades of nuance to this pretty and wonderfully expressive Chardonnay. The Stone Flat is another wine in this range that impresses for its impeccable overall balance.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Sourced all from the Durrell Vineyard, yet from a single block and clone, the 2016 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is closed and tight at present, yet has incredibly clean citrus, white flowers, and crushed rock nuances. With medium body, racy acidity, yet gorgeous balance and purity, give bottles 2-3 years and it will keep for a decade or more. There’s been a distinct style change at Kistler, with winemaker Jason Kesner purposely pulling back on the harvest dates and making a classic, age-worthy style of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He’s done this without sacrificing depth, concentration, or richness, and these latest 2016s are truly brilliant wines.
The 2016 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard sings of fresh white peaches, lime blossoms and honeycomb with touches of almond croissant and crushed rocks and then, with coaxing, reveals subtler lemongrass and mandarin peel scents and powdered ginger hints. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with vibrant citrus and spice layers, supported by a solid line of freshness and finishing wonderfully minerally.
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.