The 1996 Chardonnay Vine Hill Road Vineyard has the highest acidity of the Kistler offerings, and is normally a tight, restrained wine. The 1996, while revealing fine elegance, and a lemony, citrusy, apple-like fruitiness, also exhibited crisp, tart acidity, medium body, and a subtle personality. I suspect there are some minerals lurking in the background of this tightly-knit Chardonnay that should age well for 5-6 years. All the Kistler Chardonnays are made in a Burgundian manner. They are barrel-fermented, given full malolactic fermentation, extensive lees stirring, racked out of their barrels following a year's cask aging, and allowed to settle in tank until bottling, which usually occurs without any fining or filtration. All of the wines reviewed in this segment were tasted from tank as they were awaiting bottling early next year. Readers should recognize that Kistler's policy is to sell most of their production directly to consumers and restaurants. Readers who live in states that permit direct shipment of California wines should be sure and get on the winery's mailing list. Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709

The 1996 Chardonnay Vine Hill Road Vineyard has the highest acidity of the Kistler offerings, and is normally a tight, restrained wine. The 1996, while revealing fine elegance, and a lemony, citrusy, apple-like fruitiness, also exhibited crisp, tart acidity, medium body, and a subtle personality. I suspect there are some minerals lurking in the background of this tightly-knit Chardonnay that should age well for 5-6 years. All the Kistler Chardonnays are made in a Burgundian manner. They are barrel-fermented, given full malolactic fermentation, extensive lees stirring, racked out of their barrels following a year's cask aging, and allowed to settle in tank until bottling, which usually occurs without any fining or filtration. All of the wines reviewed in this segment were tasted from tank as they were awaiting bottling early next year.Readers should recognize that Kistler's policy is to sell most of their production directly to consumers and restaurants. Readers who live in states that permit direct shipment of California wines should be sure and get on the winery's mailing list.Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709