2018 Kistler Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard Athearn Estate
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Tasting Notes
The 2018 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is gorgeous, and also one of the finest editions I can remember tasting. It is also the first year the McCrea emerges exclusively from the white, chalky soils on the property as previous vintages also included fruit from red soils of volcanic origin. Dried flowers, chamomile, sage, mint, almond and lemon oil give the 2018 striking aromatic and flavor complexity. The 2018 is unbelievably beautiful, but it is not an obvious wine. It is one of the finest editions of the McCrea I can remember tasting.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
There’s a boatload of Chardonnay from this reference point estate, and the beauty is that they're all distinct as well as brilliant. Starting with the 2018 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard, which comes from the eastern side of Sonoma and limestone soils, it offers a Chassagne-Montrachet-like bouquet of white flowers, lemon blossom, buttered stone fruits, and salty nuts and crushed rock-like nuances. It displays bright acidity, medium body, terrific concentration, and a rock star of a finish. Always one of my favorites in the lineup, it will benefit from a year in bottle and keep for 10-15 years in cold cellars.
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.