After dumping 97 Vine Hill and Kistler Vynd, and a 95 Hudson as oxidized/DEAD I almost didn’t even taste this one when the cork fell into the bottle as I opened it—
color straw yellow with still a touch of green at the rim; rich marzipan, lime nose, hint of hazelnut that grew as the evening went on turning into complex warm Batard-like richness; amazing green apple -like acidity on the palate,actually still tart; the finish has creme brulee smoothness but is short- the only flaw in an amazing ending to “OTH night”
What bottle was this?
Oops- sorry a newbie mistake
This was called “California Chardonnay” below the KISTLER name but the bottom of the label says, “McRae Vineyard” 1990
Thanks for the note but having been a mailing list customer back in the 80s and early 90s I was pretty sure these would never age well…you have verified that assumption…sorry for your experience though. I suspect most of us on the wine boards have had our share of bottles like this as part of our wine education.
I left the Kistler list due to their hostage wine policy, along with folks like Martinelli and Rochioli who were also doing that. I have had a few Chards since then and it seems that they have been slowly changing their style…not as full blown and a bit more acidity and minerality.
Cheers, Bob
Hostage wines at Rochioli? That’s not my experience.
Tom
Kistler 97 Vine Hill. The wine that ended my Kistler purchases forever in 2001 or so. Flawed, nasty and non-returnable.