2001 Chardonnay Cuvee Cathleen
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Tasting notes
(20 barrels made, from the "richest section" of Kistler Vineyard) Pale yellow. Bright, subtle aromas of lemon, truffle, flowers, nuts and minerals. Very rich and spicy, with penetrating fruit flavors of peach and nectarine. Large-scaled, tactile and still very young, with a strong underlying structure for aging. Finishes very long, chewy and stony. Along with the superlative 2000 version, also made entirely from Kistler Vineyard, an extremely strong release for this bottling.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From a selection of the best barrels, the light gold-colored 2001 Chardonnay Cuvee Cathleen (6,396 bottles) offers aromas of brioche, buttered pear, honeyed citrus oil, and hazelnuts. Opulent, full-bodied, and thick, with superb density and richness, this sublime effort represents the essence of its varietal. Impossible to resist now, it will age for 7-9 years ... easily. Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709
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.