2014 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Kistler's 2014 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard has a real sense of density that distinguishes it from the other wines from Goldridge soils (Trenton Roadhouse and Dutton) in this range. Poised, deep and also gracious - as all the wines are in this vintage - the Vine Hill is wonderfully complete. This is another impeccable, if somewhat restrained, Chardonnay from Kistler. In 2014, this site was dry farmed.
Critic scores
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Opulently scented of exotic fruits and spices, the 2014 Chardonnay Vine Hill Road Vineyard offers up notes of ginger and anise over a core of pineapple paste, passion fruit and green guava. The palate is beautifully structured with a lively backbone of acid supporting the rich, seductive fruit, finishing long and creamy.
Kistler's home vineyard by the winery. Planted on Goldridge soils in 1988. 22,560 bottles filled . Notably richer on the nose than the other bottlings. Sweet and muscular on the palate. Lightly smoky with strong, robust, no-nonsense, very slightly stodgy, old-fashioned structure. Less finesse than some. Though the persistence is impressive. (JR)
A wine of raw power and structure, the 2014 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard comes across as not fully formed, and yet there is so much going on in the glass. The flavors and texture are quite intense in the Vine Hill, where a real sense of phenolic weight underpins the attractive lemon, apricot and chamomile notes.
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.