I signed up for Kistler maybe a week ago and already got an offer.

Anyway, they sent me an offering for the 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay.

The Chard is 75 and the Pinot 80, are they worth it? From research it seems these are 91-92 point wines.

I'm new to Pinot keep in mind, but this just seems like a bit much for the quality.

Haven't bought any or tried enough to comment.

However, I heard a rumor that Pinot Days may be coming to San Diego in 2010. Or, fly up to the SF event around July 4th. Well worth the money and a good way to educate your palate.

http://pinotdays.com/

i'd rather snort ants thru a $100 bill.

Put the video on youtube.

i'm actually afraid to search...

quote:

Originally posted by TBird:
i'd rather snort ants thru a $100 bill.

I'll provide the bill if its these ants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IochEHjEdKQ

I like the some of the Kistler Chardonnays quite a bit, especially the Durrell Vinyard.

I don't care much for the Sonoma Coast Pinot.

The Cuvee's are really nice wines but you'll have to buy a truck load of the other stuff to get them.

I stopped buying off the mailer a few years ago. It's less expensive in the long run to pick up a few of what I want in the secondary market.

Two cases of Kisler a year is just too much. (minimum spring and fall order)

quote:

Originally posted by Gigond Ass:
I like the some of the Kistler Chardonnays quite a bit, especially the Durrell Vinyard.

I don't care much for the Sonoma Coast Pinot.

The Cuvee's are really nice wines but you'll have to buy a truck load of the other stuff to get them.

I stopped buying off the mailer a few years ago. It's less expensive in the long run to pick up a few of what I want in the secondary market.

Two cases of Kisler a year is just too much. (minimum spring and fall order)

I just realized on the bottom of the form it says I have to buy a minimum of 12 bottles. They are out of their minds, don't think so.

It's nice juice but it's twice the price of Varner or Windy Oaks, and almost twice the price of Mount Eden. I'd sooner have two of those.

I would comment here, but Tbird has heard it a 1,000 times already.

JUNK IT

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:
It's nice juice but it's twice the price of Varner or Windy Oaks, and almost twice the price of Mount Eden. I'd sooner have two of those.

geez Dave, those 3 wouldn't happen to be Santa Cruz wines would they?

I would buy a few on auction and see if they are to your liking. The Sonoma Coast pinot is their bottom tier and not worth the $. Just had a '99 Kistler Vineyard chardonnay that was stellar. A nicely aged Kistler chard is tough to beat.

quote:

Originally posted by mountainman:
The Sonoma Coast pinot is their bottom tier and not worth the $. Just had a '99 Kistler Vineyard chardonnay that was stellar. A nicely aged Kistler chard is tough to beat.

What would you say are the characteristics of a good aged Kistler chard?

I don't drink very much Chardonnay, but every-time Shaferguy91 or Stemor brought a Kistler to an off-line, IMO the Kistler has been outstanding, and on par with Peter Michael, or Kongsgaard!

I once found a bottle of Kistler at a local store and Shaferguy91 later told me that it was probably their Sonoma Coast, which was usually found on restaurant wine lists and not the quality of their Single Vineyard wines.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:
What would you say are the characteristics of a good aged Kistler chard?

Everything you would hope a 10 year old white burgundy to be with less worry of being corked, oxidized or just a bad bottle (mocking French wines a bit). Beautifully nuanced, French oak well integrated, quite mineral.

My wife and I are huge fans of aged Kistler chard cuvees but I've never found it necessary to join the list. It's much better to pay extra in the secondary market (or help out folks trying to meet their mailing list commitment) and end up with exactly what you want than having to buy cases of stuff you don't.

I also disagree in principle with the whole bundling mailing list concept.

Kistler IMHO is living on its past glory.

quote:

Originally posted by Randy Sloan:
My wife and I are huge fans of aged Kistler chard cuvees but I've never found it necessary to join the list. It's much better to pay extra in the secondary market (or help out folks trying to meet their mailing list commitment) and end up with exactly what you want than having to buy cases of stuff you don't.

I also disagree in principle with the whole bundling mailing list concept.

any specific notes on an aged kistler?

I still think they are very good wines but I would go elsewhere with my money for the price.

A lot of aged kistler chards (5+ years) develop a more expressive nose, often of flowers...honeysuckle? Maybe not honeysuckle, but the overall experience bends that way. The wine certainly softens and becomes less crisp over time.

Take a chance and let a few age.

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:
any specific notes on an aged kistler?

Wouldn't you know it. Once I started looking, I saw that I haven't written that many TN on aged Kistlers. I suspect that is because when I open one, it is usually a pretty big occasion -- and on such events I don't write that many TNs. Anyway, here is what I do have. They don't have that much age on them but I do recall some nice experiences with some 1992-95 when they were 15+ years old.

• 1996 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (9/3/2009)
  Deep gold color and huge nut and butterscotch nose. Butterscotch and caramel flavors predominate with honey-lemon tea undertones. This wine suffered from rather indifferent wine service at BYOB local restaurant. The requested ice-bucket never arrived. Not rated as I don't think we were able to see this bottle at its best. Still, I love Kistlers with some age!
  
• 2001 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/2/2009)
  Roasted almonds, lemon meringue pie, green apples... nice acidity keeps it light and uplifting. Drink now. (92 pts.)
  
• 1995 Kistler Chardonnay Dutton Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/22/2008)
  Roasted hazelnuts, butterscotch, fig, freshly baked lemon pastry, brown sugar, and a nearby campfire. I love aged Kistler chards and this deep golden-colored '95 was no exception. I liked it significantly more than some other CT tasters but it is time to drink these up. Also, not quite up to par with the '95 Sonoma Coast I had recently. (92 pts.)
  
• 2003 Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (4/24/2008)
  Deep golden color. Ripe apple, roasted nuts, popcorn, all balanced perfectly on nice oak and acid. A fantastic wine. (93 pts.)
  
• 1998 Kistler Chardonnay Dutton Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/5/2007)
  Deep golden color. Spiced apple pie and roasted chestnuts. Slate and river rocks. This is quite possibly the best and most interesting chardonnay I have ever experienced and has put aged Kistlers on my shopping list.
  
• 1999 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (10/28/2006)
  Great mature chard. Color was a deep gold with nose of freshly baked bread. A big, heavy-weight wine without being overbearing. A Muhammed Ali of a wine floating and stinging but packing a big puch. An apricot cobbler without the sweetness. (93 pts.)
  
• 1999 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (11/10/2003)
  Deep golden color with smokey vanilla aromas. Beautiful example of what one can do with oak and chardonnay without going crazy. Citrus, pineapple, even some mango all framed by a pleasant buttered toast and oak structure. Laser beam of acidity keeps it lively. Drinking wonderfully now, will probably improve over the next couple of years. (92 pts.)
  
• 2001 Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/10/2003)
  $95 on wine list at Boulevard restaurant. More old world style than other Kistlers I’ve tried. Clean, bright citrus (primarily lemon), green apple, and honeysuckle floral notes. High acid. Short finish. Nice wine, but not at this price. (88 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

A couple years ago I paid $60 for an 01 Dutton Ranch Chard. It was great. I have a couple of their reds, but haven't had any yet.

Considering the competition of good-great chards. in the $40-60 price range has grown, I'd say unless you find them for this price, they may not be worth it.

I see alot of nuts in all the notes.

and that is my experience too.

A few fellow more experienced tasters have always thought it was the oxidization that gives it the nuttiness and i feel like I would agree with that assessment.

I bought Kistler when the chards were $60. When they bumped the price to $75, I dropped off the list (but continue to get offers). I also dropped Aubert for the same reason. Kistler chard is pretty easy to find at less than retail on the secondary market. I picked up a case of 03 Les Noistiers last year for about $30 per bottle. Now, THAT price, I'll pay.... and the wine was excellent.

I have been on their mailer for 3 years now and the only reason why I have been able to do so is because I talked some friends into sharing the MINIMUM 12 bottles allocation among us. I agree with some of the posts here, they are CRAZY requiring you to buy two cases as a minimum. I have not bought in their last two offerings.

That said, I really got into Kistler's Chardonnays back when all most Californian Chardonnays were oak-bombs but today I find really hard to justify a price tag of 70+ for a style I can find elsewhere for a much cheaper price (did anybody see Decanter's September '09 issue "ABC: Absolutely Brilliant Chardonnays"?).

Same thing for their PNs. They are very very good but I don't think they are so unique to justify buying 2 cases of their offerings...