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Kistler Vineyards is a wine producer in northern California's Sonoma County. Its considerable reputation is thanks largely to its robust, buttery Chardonnay wines, which have established Kistler as a cult winery since the 1980s.
The company was founded in 1978 by Steve Kistler and remains a family-owned and operated winery. It is a relatively small producer, making just 35,000 cases annually, much of which is sold through its significant mailing list. Kistler's focus is the Burgundy varieties, making 10 vineyard-designated Chardonnay wines and four designated Pinot Noir wines.
One heritage Californian selection of Chardonnay planted across fifteen vineyards, from Carneros to Sonoma Valley, to the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. From those sites we produce eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays. We are wholly dedicated to the ideal of wines of site. It’s an unparalleled approach in the new world.
Two heritage selections of Pinot Noir inform all of our Pinot Noirs. Originally hailing from a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy, we’ve been propagating these two selections for the last twenty-five years. They, like our Chardonnay clone are very low yielding, resulting in wines with a natural density and concentration of flavor, balanced by elegant natural acids and elevated aromatics.
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2002 |
| Rating | 95 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | North Coast |
| Producer | Kistler |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 95 RP - 2002 Kistler Occidental Vineyard Cuvee Elizabeth Pinot - 95 Pts! Kistler's daughter gets her name on the 250-case lot of 2002 Pinot Noir Occidental Vineyard Cuvee Elizabeth. This wine is spectacular and while I don't like to choose between daughters it gets a slight nod over the Cuvee Catherine because it just seems to have a few more layers of flavor crammed into its medium to full-bodied personality. Wonderfully floral raspberry and kirsch notes emerge from this wine which also shows a touch of toast some crushed stony rocky notes and beautiful texture and vibrant acidity. I wouldn't be surprised to see this wine age effortlessly for 10-15 years. It is certainly a terrific Pinot Noir which as I said last year comes across as California's Musigny. |
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| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2002 |
| Rating | 95 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | North Coast |
| Producer | Kistler |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
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