2019 Kistler Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard
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Tasting notes
While normally one of the more backward, tight, and closed wines in the lineup (hence the reason they release it in magnum only), the 2019 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard has the vintage's slightly more rounded, supple style and is just a beautiful drink that already offers pleasure yet will have 10-15 years of longevity if properly stored. Poached pears, lemon curd, white flowers, salty minerality, and a kiss of green almonds all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with vibrant acidity, terrific overall balance, and just a quintessential, classic Russian River style that's such a joy to taste. It will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age and should be long-lived.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
I have always been a fan of Kistler wines, but these 2019s have blown me away—especially this epic 2019 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard. Its aromas are pure, intense, detailed and singular, with tones of crystallized honey, lilac, jasmine and salted almonds. The palate is a symphony of expansive, satiny texture and ethereal lift, honey and salty tang, with incomparable purity and length. Its energy and dynamic palate of flavors called me in again and again, and I just could not put this wine down! Bottled only in magnum, it will evolve at a glacial pace in the cellar.
The 2019 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (Magnum) is outrageously beautiful. In 2019, the Laguna Ridge marries textural intensity and vibrancy to a degree I have not seen before with this bottling, which debuted in 2015. Clean mineral and savory notes extend the finish effortlessly. Offered only in magnum, the 2019 needs time to shed some of its baby fat. It is such a gorgeous wine.
About the producer
Kistler’s Chardonnays are some of the world’s most sought-after. This cult Californian producer crafts small volumes of exceptional, rich and generous, yet mineral and precise wines. With almost the entire production sold directly to their mailing list, the wines are also incredibly hard to find.