Terrific thick and clear color. You can see the richness in this. Had at the right temperature also - not too cold. Those that have had good white wine with me at offlines including Chardonnay and Sauternes know I HATE when good white wine is served TOO COLD! Sauternes stuck in an ice bucket for an hour will piss me off to know end. Ditto Chardonnay
[ahem] Sorry. Where was I?
Yummy and inviting aromas of butterscotch, peaches, and light oak. The aromas really grew over the 90 minutes and turning even sweeter. Full mouthfeel but lighter than the glass and legs would suggest. Tastes of delicious toasted almond, vanilla, some peach pie. Perfect acidity. Long classy finish, that got better over time.
A perfect California Chardonnay? Damm close. But I can't score a Chard 100 points, so I'll be conservative.
95 points
Next bottle scheduled for 2008 - unless I have a very weak moment or I'm about to eat a rare tuna steak and someone puts this right in front of me.
Posts: 7345 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: Sep 27, 2003
I had my first Ramey late month - an 04'. Very nice. It's just not on this level IMO. I wouldn't bet against this still being great in 10 years. Price matters though.
As you mentioned, a grand Cru Burgundy is a better comparison and the price point makes much more sense.
Posts: 7345 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: Sep 27, 2003
Originally posted by Hunter: I had my first Ramey late month - an 04'. Very nice. It's just not on this level IMO. I wouldn't bet against this still being great in 10 years. Price matters though.
As you mentioned, a grand Cru Burgundy is a better comparison and the price point makes much more sense.
We had a 1999 Kistler Vine Hill a few weeks ago, it has NO problem lasting a few more years IMO.
Posts: 1401 | Location: Jersey City | Registered: Feb 22, 2006
Originally posted by Hunter: I had my first Ramey late month - an 04'. Very nice. It's just not on this level IMO. I wouldn't bet against this still being great in 10 years. Price matters though.
As you mentioned, a grand Cru Burgundy is a better comparison and the price point makes much more sense.
We had a 1999 Kistler Vine Hill a few weeks ago, it has NO problem lasting a few more years IMO.
I agree! That wine still had plenty of life in it!
Myerson/Taylor in '08! Drink or die!
Posts: 174 | Location: dnalyraM | Registered: Dec 05, 2006
Originally posted by mpls wine guy: Kistler is expensive but I guess comapared to grand cru chablis it's a bargain. I enjoy David Ramey's chards for the money!
Oh boy Why do you keep saying that? Sorry to seem annoyed and a little sarcastic NOW, but you're not really asking about this, you're being a wise-$ss about it and this is twice so I'll try to be clear....again. Apparantly actually drinking the wine didn't mean or prove anything to you. I'm still not sure what your point is to me here. Is it that I can't read a label on a wine or that I'm lying?
I don't know why I feel I have to paste the exact email from THEM regarding my shipment 2 weeks ago. I'm just not in the mood to pose in my kitchen taking a picture holding my bottles and I don't like to give out my UPS shipper number. I'm also not good at just ignoring people.
Email Text:
TO: _____ HUNTER FROM: SUSAN SKUBIC - KISTLER VINEYARDS May 9, 2007
2005 Spring Release
Your order is scheduled to ship on May 14 via UPS OVERNIGHT. You should expect to receive it by May 16. If you have not received it by May 17 please contact us, preferably by e-mail or fax. By e-mail orderquestions@kistlerwine.com By fax at (707) 823-6709 By phone at (707) 823-5603
Mailer Copy: Wine Available for Purchase Items Allocated to You Number of Items You Are Ordering Price per Item TOTALS 2005 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay 12 bottles × $ 2005 McCrea Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay 12 bottles × $
Left out the price.
FWIW, their website for the fall release is out of date - if that is where you are looking. It shows 2004 offerings, including the Dutton and McCrea and others - which is obviuosly not correct. Only other explanation is getting some out before the summer to out of state or good customers.
Are we done here?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hunter,
Posts: 7345 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: Sep 27, 2003
Nope. The other 196 bottles showing as “purchased” with an additional 47 “pending delivery” on CT aren’t real either.
quote:
Originally posted by Hunter: Left out the price.
FWIW, the average price paid on CT is $67. Great juice, I just don’t need a boat load of expensive chards (they are excellent) to get to the few great PN’s they make.
___________________________________________________ It's good to try them young too and then let them age - James Suckling Infanticide can be very satisfying - Robert Parker I drink mine young to avoid disappointments - James Laube
Posts: 5063 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: Jun 03, 2004
FWIW, the average price paid on CT is $67. Great juice, I just don’t need a boat load of expensive chards (they are excellent) to get to the few great PN’s they make.
Thanks. I didn't pay exactly that.
I agree. I really don't pony up big for high end Chards, so one like this won't kill me. I was pretty taken by a few I have had in the past and Yes I would love to try their Pinots.
Also, like someone mentioned - if comparing to "some" higher end burgundy which I love - it's really not bad, and the quality is equal or better in many vintages. I have spent this for reds, why not great whites that can age as long as most reds out there? It also can be hard to find 96 point grand cru white burgundy under $65 - if that matters to people.
Posts: 7345 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: Sep 27, 2003
So this had me perplexed since Duttons & McCreas have always been released in the Fall but Susan at Kistler cleared it up for me.
"These two wines weren’t originally offered this spring. But when we sold out of everything after only a month into accepting orders for the spring wines, it was decided to release these two wines to people who were late in ordering, or were just signing up on the mailing list. They will be offered again in the fall."
Posts: 1665 | Location: Park City, Utah | Registered: Dec 05, 2001
Exotic fruits jumps right in your face with plenty of pineapple, pear and a touch of green apple. Some oak as well. Med body, low+ acidity, even more pineapple on the palate with some spiciness and mineraliy on the short finish. Oak is definitely there but not too overwhelming. Overall it's a nice wine I'd appreciate complexity and such a short finish is unacceptable at that price.
__________________________ Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
Posts: 1239 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Sep 05, 2006
.
Why do you keep saying that? Sorry to seem annoyed and a little sarcastic NOW, but you're not really asking about this, you're being a wise-$ss about it and this is twice so I'll try to be clear....again. Apparantly actually drinking the wine didn't mean or prove anything to you. I'm still not sure what your point is to me here. Is it that I can't read a label on a wine or that I'm lying? 
