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Kistler

My most recent visit to Kistler was quite poignant, as it was really emblematic of a new chapter in the history of this illustrious winery. To be sure, many of the recent changes have been in the works for some time. Steve Kistler has now moved on from the winery he founded in 1978 and set up shop at Occidental. Jason Kesner, Kistler's colleague for nearly a decade, has taken over the reins as part of a long-term succession plan that has been in place for many years. Kesner has been in every tasting I have done at Kistler since 2011. His relationship with Steve Kistler goes back quite further, to the days when Kesner was running Hudson Vineyards. Much less expected was the sudden passing of Mark Bixler, Steve Kistler's long-term business partner. Bixler had also been in all of my previous tastings at the winery. The last time I heard from Bixler was in October, right after the wildfires had burned his home. He seemed in good spirits. Then, a few weeks later, he was gone. Life can be so fleeting. As for the wines, 2015 looks more like a Pinot Noir year than a Chardonnay year at Kistler. The 2015 Pinots are off the charts great. Overall, the Chardonnays have good freshness, but the unnaturally compacted, hot growing season and early harvest appear to have attenuated some of the site-specific differences that are typically present in the wines. This seems especially true of the Hyde and Hudson Chardonnays. Readers will note that there is a name change on what was formerly the Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir. In the past, there was some confusion in naming, because the Kistler Vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noir actually were made from different sites, the former from the Kistler Vineyard on Moon Mountain and the latter from the Kistler Vineyard in the Russian River. Going forward, there is no change for the Chardonnays, both of which are still made from the Kistler Vineyard on Moon Mountain. The Russian River Kistler Vineyard has been renamed Laguna Ridge, and is the source of a new Chardonnay as well as the Pinot that was previously named Kistler Vineyard. Ordinarily, I would have also reported on the 2016s prior to botting, but the October fires made that impossible.

From Sonoma’s Stellar 2016s (Apr 2018) by Antonio Galloni

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2015 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge (formerly Kistler Vineyard)

Color: Red

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Kistler

2015 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge (formerly Kistler Vineyard)

2015 Pinot Noir Silver Belt Cuvée Natalie

2015 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen

2015 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (Magnum)

2015 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch

2015 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse

2015 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard

2015 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard

2016 Chardonnay Les Noisetiers

2015 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

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