2018 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

This is a terrific set of new releases from Kistler. The 2018 Chardonnays are the most consistently brilliant wines I have ever tasted here. The long, cool growing season gave winemaker Jason Kesner the opportunity to make wines that express the character of site, and that's exactly what comes through. The 2018 Chardonnays are gorgeous wines through which to explore the wide range of vineyards in the Kistler range. I found the 2018 Pinots pretty tight and far less forthcoming than the Chardonnays. These days, Kesner picks more on acidity than fruit ripeness. Consequently, the wines have moved towards a fresher style, and that is amplified in 2018. The wines spent eleven months in barrel (about 40% new wood), followed by three months in tank prior to being bottled.