2012 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard offers up plenty of tropical pineapple and more of the orange marmalade and citrus oil notes in a full, deep and fleshier style than the McCrea. Its touch of wet rocks and its good acidity and precision give the wine a well-defined style. It should drink well for 4-5 years.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is one of the most open and accessible of Kistler's vineyard-designate Chardonnays. Orange peel, hazelnut, smoke, mint and anise blossom in the glass. There is lovely resonance and richness here, but all in the mid-weight, open style of the year.
The 2012 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is quite floral and lifted in this vintage, with expressive aromatics and a bit less in the way of overt fruit next to some of the other wines in the range. Green apple, pear, white flowers and mint all add complexity in an ethereal, beautifully perfumed Chardonnay. Hints of almond, hazelnut and sweet spices linger on the pointed, delineated 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.