2020 Chardonnay Durell Vineyards
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is bright and effusive in its aromatics, showing lovely depth to match its understated personality. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, sage and almond build nicely into the delicate, nuanced finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The only difference between this parcel and the Stone Flats Vineyard bottling is the rootstock, which here in the Durell Vineyard produces more dense and compact bunches. The 2020 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard certainly is more concentrated with its aromatics of ripe stone fruits, peach, orange blossom, buttercream, and honey. The palate is matched with intensity and richness, with orange oil, white flowers, and a long finish.
The 2020 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard offers singular aromas of apple, lime peel, iodine and flint, with classy baking spices from its maturation in 38% new French oak. Aromatically dynamic, it segues from its initial spice and mineral tones to generous white peaches, clotted cream and crystalized honey. The palate explodes with flavor, its pure, concentrated fruits refreshed by tangy acidity that calls you in for another sip. Satiny, expansive and energetic, it has a very long, gently textural finish. Normally about 1,000 cases are made, but in the challenging 2020 vintage, only 460 cases are available.
The 2020 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is bright and effusive in its aromatics, showing lovely depth to match its understated personality. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, sage and almond build nicely into the delicate, nuanced finish.
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.