2021 Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse has delicate scents of white apricot and fresh quince with soft smoky undertones from a hint of youthful reduction. The palate is light-bodied with a singular, silky texture, vibrant acidity, a perfumed core of peachy fruit and a very long finish.

The 2021 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse pours a youthful golden hue and takes on a dramatically different profile in its notes of pineapple, fresh yellow flowers, and golden apple. Full-bodied, it has a rounded feel and great salinity, ripe salted pineapple, orange oil, and, and toasted spices. It’s long and round on the finish, which gives a hint of smoky incense. Drink this over the next 8-10 years. Located in the Russian River Valley, Kistler is led today by winemaker Jason Kesner, who continues the long tradition of working from a singular clone of Chardonnay with Burgundian lineage that Steve Kistler, now of Occidental Wines, began in the 1980s. The 2021s were all tasted at the winery with Jason this May. Across the board, the wines from this vintage carry a savory profile that’s less about its fruit character and more about texture and sense of place, expressing a haunting sense of power and range. These are wines that I sometimes find difficult to pin down into words, but they are truly worth experiencing for yourself.

Chunky and phenolic young wine with layers of tannins and dried apple with lemon zest and mineral character. It’s full and powerful like Grand Cru Burg, showing structure and intensity for long-term aging. Apple skin and citrus zest with pie crust. Better in 2025.