Bright gold. Flamboyantly perfumed bouquet of pear, blood orange, smoky minerals, saffron and yellow rose, with a suave overlay of oak spice. Completely stains the palate with deeply concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors, gaining an exotic licorice quality with air. Fleshy but focused, with excellent finishing clarity and mineral thrust. For a big boy, this is surprisingly lithe.

Light gold with a greenish hue, the 2006 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard exhibits aromas and flavors of lemon oil, peaches, nectarines, guava, and caramelized spices with a subtle wood component. Full-bodied with crisp acidity as well as a long finish, it should offer lovely drinking for 7-8 years. Another impressive group of Chardonnays from Steve Kistler, these 2006s are unmistakably Burgundian in their aromatics, textures, and flavor profiles. Kistler has given up on the highly fashionable Dijon clones, relying on old California clones, primarily old Wente selections. He feels the same about Pinot Noir, using the Calera and other older California clones rather than the Dijon selections. Previously Recommended: 2005 Chardonnay Durell (94-96), 2005 Chardonnay Dutton (94-96), 2005 Chardonnay Hirsch (90-93), 2005 Chardonnay Hudson (90-92), 2005 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard (94-96), 2005 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard (95-98), 2005 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen (96-100), 2005 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard (93-95), 2005 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard (95-97), 2005 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard (94-96). (Release date spring 2009) Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709