The 1995 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvee Catherine is one of the most remarkable Pinot Noirs I have tasted from California. The opaque ruby/purple color and sweet nose of black fruits, smoked meat, and minerals are followed by a wine of exceptional richness, purity, and delineation. It is still backward and closed, but wow, what concentration, intensity, and overall balance. Might not this wine prove to be an historical effort? Kistler's impressive Pinot Noir portfolio was launched with the 1994s, which will be released in the marketplace over the next 5-6 months. The 1995 Pinot Noirs appear to be as good as the impressive 1994s. Readers having a difficult time finding the Kistler wines should realize that a healthy percentage of the 18,000 case production is sold via the winery's direct mailing list, with much of the balance going to our country's top restaurants. The winery also tends to release its wines later than others because of their aging potential. Kistler Vineyards is at the pinnacle of the California qualitative pyramid. Particularly admirable is the fact that they got there the hard way - they earned it. Tel. (707) 996-5117; Fax (707) 996-7061