2009 Kistler Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen
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Tasting notes
Bright gold. Flamboyantly perfumed bouquet of lemon curd, yellow plum, melon and vanilla, with a smoky mineral topnote. Dense, chewy and focused, offering intense pit fruit and floral flavors and a sneaky note of honey. Broad and opulent but also dry, conveying a strong impression of extract. Finishes sappy and very long, with resonating floral and smoky elements.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen, from Wente clones, saturates the palate with honey, yellow flowers, marzipan, tangerine and apricots. It possesses stunning depth and intensity, along with persistent saline notes that add lift on the creamy, expansive finish. The Cuvee Cathleen is quite a bit richer than the straight Kistler Vineyard. Both are striking, which one readers ultimately prefer, is strictly personal preference.
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.