Kistler Vineyards Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay 2021
Kistler Vineyards
Kistler's Sonoma Mountain bottling shows what happens when multiple vineyard parcels are blended by a winemaker obsessed with site-specific texture. Steve Kistler's Burgundian approach — whole-cluster pressing, native ferment, sur lie aging — creates a Chardonnay where the blending of parcels yields complexity that no single block could achieve. This is California Chardonnay at its most purposeful.
Nose
Ripe Fuji apple and citrus blossom lead, followed by a buttery brioche note and toasted almond. There is a subtle honeyed quality and a minerally undertone that lifts the fruit.
Palate
Full-bodied but precise, with flavors of poached pear, lemon curd, and a gentle vanilla from well-integrated oak. The texture is creamy without being heavy, and a crisp citrus acidity keeps everything taut through the mid-palate.
Finish
Long and focused, resolving to toasted hazelnut, citrus pith, and a whisper of honey.
- Varietal
- Chardonnay
- Blend
- 100% Chardonnay
- Vineyards
- Multiple estate and contracted parcels on Sonoma Mountain
- Alcohol
- 14.1%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
Pan-seared halibut with brown butter, capers, and roasted fennel
Founded in 1978 by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler, Kistler Vineyards in Sonoma County has pursued a Burgundian philosophy of Chardonnay winemaking, blending select mountain parcels to capture the layered character of each vintage.
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