2002 Kistler Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Pale-medium yellow. Crushed stone, ginger, iodine, grapefruit and orange zest on the high-pitched nose. Spicy, fine-grained and densely packed, with superb flavor intensity and outstanding lift. Impressively broad but also light on its feet. Very long, unflagging, uncompromisingly dry finish features juicy citrus flavors and minerals. Here's another Kistler chardonnay that could do some major damage in a blind tasting with top white Burgundies.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The medium-bodied 2002 Chardonnay Hudson E-Block exhibits notions of lemon peel, tropical fruit (pineapple), and a hint of pear. Like many of the Kistler 2002 Chardonnays, there is a greenish hue to the light straw color. The flavors include a touch of smoke and earth, but this offering finishes short in the mouth. I would not be surprised to see it put on additional weight prior to bottling next year. (Not yet released) 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.