Kistler, McCrea Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain

Well integrated and balanced. No reason to wait.

2018 vintage

Super fun, totally delicious Chardonnay from Kistler. A knock-out nose of lemon meringue, apple blossoms, white peaches, crushed stones, hazelnut, and a hint of mushroom. Bracing acidity, velvety texture, with a strong streak of minerality. The finish lasts forever and is totally captivating. Has the bones to last another 10 years. Kistler's evolve beautifully too.

2018 vintage

Finally a nice bottle. White flowers, peaches, apricots with hints of citrus. I bought a case of .375's and half of them were spoiled. No fun.

2018 vintage

Another bad bottle. That makes half of the case.

2018 vintage

Drinking beautifully with Dover sole; not blinded; recommend 5 to 7 year window

2018 vintage

Another spoiled bottle - that two nights in a row and around 5 bottles of the case. I have three left and have little hope for them.

2018 vintage

Another spoiled bottle.

2018 vintage

This wine is gorgeous with notes of chamomile, lemon, mint, and white peaches - very aromatic. I am a big fan of most Kistler wines.

2018 vintage

This wine was a bit darker than expected, and also a bit more full-bodied than most McCreas. Soft citrus, slate, and some butterscotch on the nose, followed by lime, Meyer lemon, and mineral flavors. The finish is medium in length, with notable acidity at the finish. It was a very interesting wine, and atypical of the McCreas that I've tasted in the past.

2018 vintage

Another bad bottle - down the sink it went.

2018 vintage

Opened a half bottle to drink with my keto inspired dish of egg roll in a bowl. The color was almost amber, it didn't smell to good and tasted worse. Now down the sink it went and I opened another one. Color and smell were okay but not the taste so down the sink that went. The third bottle was good but not as good as previous bottles. Perhaps after tasting two bad bottles I lost my taste so I …

2018 vintage

Bright clear yellow, saline & lemon scent, rich texture with a superb finish.

2018 vintage

First bottle of a case of 375's that I took from storage. This bottle I served with our appetizer of seared scallops. I screwed up when instead of chilling it in the fridge I accidentally put it in the freezer and had to wait until the temperature came down in order to drink it. The nose was all fruit, leading to a palate of peaches, green apples and almonds. The finish was nice but I do think my mistake damaged …

2018 vintage

There is white flowers and stone fruit on the nose. The palate is peach, almond, lemon rind and white flowers. The finish is bold and crisp - really enjoyable.

2018 vintage

This is outstanding Chardonnay, very Montrachet White Burgundy like style. Light golden color, nose of white peach, camomile, acacia, some lemon curd, ginger, green apples, sea breeze, almonds with hint of buttered brioche. Palate is with notes of tropical fruit, apple, peaches, creamy texture, excellent acidity and long long finish. Still has at least 5-10 years left in it. Only have one more bottle left so will keep for a while.

2018 vintage

Nose of lime oil, sea air and white flowers. Tastes of lime rind, white pineapple, green apple, ginger and wet stone. Med + acidity. Mouth-coating texture. Long finish. 92+

2018 vintage

Translucent white gold, with notes of sweet flowers, salty breeze, warm caramel, and pear. Rich melon, toasted biscuit, and earthy, nutty, lime peel. Phenolic grip, with bright, balancing acidity. Mouthcoat and packed with flavor! Such a great wine!

2018 vintage

Golden color, massive bouquet of tropical fruit and wet stones. The wine has tremendous mouth coating fruit, excellent acidity and a long delicious finish. Drinking beautifully.

2018 vintage

A very unique and delicious wine that was quite temperamental as far as what we were eating. It changed endlessly from dish to dish. At one point tasting like a Chenin Blanc with the Gnocchi and then like a daub Blanc with the Caesar salad. Very curious but still delicious.

2018 vintage

Wimps Thankgsiving Lunch - Connor Table; 11/25/2021-11/26/2021 (La Trompette) : Was pretty excited to taste this, however it was not as excited to be drunk. A bit over - poxed perhaps - weirdly diffuse.

2003 vintage

This wine...oh man! Greenish yellow color, with a viscous texture. Smells of mint, lime oil, coconut, sea spray and fresh cut hay. In the mouth there is a phenolic like toastiness, with rich notes of honey, melon and fresh herbs. The wine is fuller in body but amazingly light on it's feet. Framed perfectly with some fine, but tangy acidity. Flavors and smells held on through the long finish and the night! you will not be disappointed if you open …

2018 vintage

Needed a quarter bottle of white wine to add to the broth for a pot of mussels I was making. So I opened a 375 poured half in the pot and drank the rest. There is white flowers and stone fruit on the nose. The palate is peach, almond, lemon rind and white flowers. The finish is bold and crisp - really enjoyable I will not be using my remaining bottles for cooking again.

2018 vintage

White flowers, meyer lemon, peach, minerals, nice acidity and a touch of oak with more body than most. At this price I did not appreciate it as much as some others have.

2018 vintage

Gone. Over the hill. Pushing up daisies. Passed away. Resting in acrid peace. Demised. Deceased. Departed, gone, lost, slipped away. Lost the battle, succumbed. Gave up the ghost. Kicked the bucket. Didn't make it. Breathed its last oaky breath. I have two more bottles in the cellar.

1999 vintage

Gone to varnish. Undrinkable, way past its time.

1996 vintage

light yellow, touch green, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: white peach, stone fruit, flowers, orange rind, white pepper, hazelnut, chalk, minerals, oak Pal: white peach, stone fruit, pear, orange rind, white pepper, salted nuts, chalk, minerals, oak Feel: medium, savory, acidic Finish: long T9

2018 vintage

Granny smith, minerality, acidity and lemon A- Had both the 2017 and 2018 at the same time, preferred 2017.

2018 vintage

Cellaraid - Chardonnay Corfefe Luncheon and red wine based Dinner (Tonny's Restaurant) : clear, deep gold; clean, pronounced nose, with aromas of apricot, hawthorne, Lingzhi; dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol, full body, intensely flavoured, of apricot, bergamot, hawthorne, thyme, with a medium finish; very good wine, in fact the wine of the afternoon; can drink now, or perhaps age a few more years

1999 vintage

Massive oak monster. Vanilla, unwelcome dill, and alcohol all arm wrestling for your attention in a full bodied glass of California Chardonnay. This may be the very wine that gave California Chardonnay a reputation. Yellow green in color. This bottle tastes fresh. It has that going for it.

1996 vintage

Gone. Bitter, cloyingly sweet, caramel. Awful stuff. Undrinkable. Two bottles left in the cellar.

1996 vintage

Totally gone. Cloying turpentine.

1996 vintage

Interesting experiment - a 12 year old Kistler. Has held up well sine I last tried this bottling 5 years ago. Unfortunately there was not much left even in 2010.

2003 vintage

One of the better single vineyard offerings I've had in a long time. REALLY enjoyed this bottle from '03. Nice fruit. well balanced. Honeysuckle, apricot on the nose. pineapple. LOVED it.. I'm sure Provenance had a lot to do with this bottle: It went from Kistler directly into my cellar, and has stayed there ever since.

2003 vintage

Yellow color belies the age, aromas of buttered popcorn and banana. Rich oily yellow peach and apple flavors big and bold, create nice lush quality. Still drinking surprisingly well, but would drink up now.

1999 vintage

Chicago Wine Flock...Hezi's Late 90s Trip Around the World (Hezi's - HP,IL) : Tasted double blind. A very odd bottle. First there seemed to be some spritz I would expect from secondary fermentation in bottle. Furthermore the wine was mostly stripped of any interesting (or uninteresting) aromas, then very flat on palate with a bitter note. I thought this was also slightly corked.

2003 vintage

Fully medium amber with a golden rim. Hard to get past the oxidative influences on the nose, but there is some orange liqueur, subtle lemon and distinct herbal character overlying the distinctive mineral core. A bit brighter in its acidity and Meyer lemon notes in the mouth. Really, this is over the hill, and it falls fairly flat on the finish without much delay. I want to love these '99 Kistler Chardonnays, but keep getting disappointed.

1999 vintage

In a nice spot now, still fresh and lively, but with well developed secondary characteristics as well. Doubt it will improve.

2003 vintage

Clear deep yellow color. Outstanding bouquet of pear, butter, lemon oil, smoky oak, with interesting hints of beeswax and coconut. Rich and generous on the palate, classic California chardonnay, holding up very well, but drink soon.

1996 vintage

Wow, what a wonderful California chardonnay. More like a great Meursault. Still going strong and no signs of oxidation -- a welcome relief from some of the other older Kistlers I have had.

2003 vintage

Oxidized like so many other late 90's Kistlers.

1999 vintage

Controversial notes on this wine. All of my Kistlers are delivered direct via mail list and immediately cellared, so provenance not an issue. This was a phenomenal bottle. Golden yellow with just the slightest tinge of green. Heady nose of butterscotch, flowers and peaches. Viscuous mouthfeel, perfect acidity. Full bodied, flavors of dried apricot and orange peel, big massive oaky and drinking very well at the moment. I like aged Chardonnays and the slightly musty flavors, most of which burned …

2003 vintage

A bit more oxidative influence in this bottle yielding an orange vaniila cream personality

1999 vintage

Stellar juice; consistent with my prior eval - adding granny smith apple notes

1999 vintage

Popped and poured. Deep gold, almost orange. Not dead on the nose with some citrus and oak. On the palate, over the hill but not dead; some mid-palate flesh left but drying out on the finish.

1999 vintage

1999 is shaping up to be a splendid year for Kistler. This McCrea drinks very youthfully. Yellow gold color with fresh clean nose ranging from greener chlorophyll and fresh corn notes through a bit of tropical stuff concluding with clean focusing citrus wash.

1999 vintage

Needs to decant or breathe in the glass for a few minutes to allow the initial bitterness to blow off. This is a fully mature chardonnay. Good body, viscous, amber to golden in color, nutty aroma. Delicious and complex, some caramel, long on the palate, good minerality. Could be mistaken for a Burgundy.

1999 vintage

- Yellow color. It's overly acidic and has flavours of phenolic and medicinal with a medium/full body. Coarse texture with a medium finish - Spritzy corky

2003 vintage

Oxidized

1999 vintage

not my favorite kistler when it was younger, but this is clearly past prime. i no longer hold my kistler chards the way i do PM and aubert.

2003 vintage

Dinner with Mattias (Jock) : Bright yellow color with some cloudiness. Aromas of lime and cat pee with loads of oak. Tastes of lemon and lime. Slight bitterness on the tart finish. My guess was Sonoma Chardonnay. 14.1% alcohol. Brought by Mattias.

2003 vintage

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Kistler, McCrea Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain

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