2024 Kistler - Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain (750ml)

Kistler Vineyards was founded in 1978 by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler, with Steve managing the vineyards and winemaking while Mark, a PhD chemist, ran the business and lab. Their shared vision of crafting wines true to their origin site was ahead of its time in California, and their mastery of that concept has made Kistler one of the most collectible, widely adored names in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery is renowned for small-production wines modeled after the great whites of Burgundy, with a focus on single-clone Chardonnay from site-specific vineyards.

The original Kistler planting sits at nearly 1,800 feet on the western edge of the Mayacamas range, where forty-year-old dry-farmed vines grow in a rare mix of deep red volcanic and fine chalky soils. This hillside Sonoma Mountain AVA, established in 1985, is known for volcanic soils and complex microclimates that yield concentrated yet balanced wines. The 2024 vintage was fermented with native yeasts, aged in French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Expect ripe lemon, white peach, and toasted hazelnut on the nose, with a rich, creamy palate balanced by crisp acidity and a streak of saline minerality, finishing long, clean, and quietly impressive. Ripe orchard fruit, citrus oil, hazelnut, and subtle toast carry through on the medium to full-bodied, textured palate, with vibrant acidity keeping it lively and a long, mineral-edged finish.

This is a natural pairing for roast chicken, lobster, crab, creamy pasta, or scallops in butter. It rewards a little patience in the cellar but drinks beautifully now with a decant.