2023 Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen Chardonnay
Notes
Green-tinged yellow to pale yellow. Barely opened and almost opened citrus blossoms, juicy just ripe pear, dried herbs, nut oils, crushed shale. A multilayered effort packed with extract and flavor and a weighted density all its own unlike any other wine we produce yet well buttressed by its natural acidity. It fills and lifts at the same time, effortlessly. The 2023 is simply stunning. It comes from a special place, the one hillside block that faces west at the Kistler Vineyard, at elevation above the Sonoma Valley. Classic. Complex. Complete.
Reviews
99
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
After a swirl or two, the 2023 Cuvee Cathleen erupts from the glass with powerful notes of just-ripe peaches, fresh mango, honeysuckle, and ginger, leading to hints of baking bread and allspice. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in elegance and grace, delivering slow-coming tropical and orchard fruit layers with seamless freshness and a silky texture, finishing very long and whispery. Cuvee Cathleen comes from an early 1990s planting within the original Kistler Vineyard—a dedicated eastern side block influenced by the afternoon sun.
100
Jim Gordon
Great power and intensity come with a supple texture and elegant balance in this full-bodied, energized and delicious wine. Aromas of toast, grilled pears and brown butter lead to incredibly concentrated, deep and delicious fruit flavors surrounded by vivid citrus acidity. It's so mouth-filling, mouthwatering and expansive on the palate. The finish is extra long and lingering. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
97
Audrey Frick
The 2023 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen has more depth and richness of texture, with a full-bodied feel in its notes of fresh apricot, melon, raw honey, fresh flowers, and bullied citrus. It’s full-bodied and has a rich texture, but it stays light on its feet, with a floating feel on the finish, and it doesn’t feel hot at all.
100
Antonio Galloni
The 2023 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen is without question one of the wines of the wines of this great vintage. Iron, graphite, white pepper and dried herbs lead into a core of citrus fruit. This potent, structured Moon Mountain Chardonnay simply has it all, starting with a strong, assertive voice that is undeniable and impossible to resist. The 2023 needed a day to show all of its pedigree. It's a California version of Corton Charlemagne.
96
Erin Brooks
The 2023 Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen has pure, intense aromas of quince, beeswax, hazelnut, oystershell and white lilies. The medium-bodied palate is incredibly silky and perfumed. Its concentration is balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, perfumed finish. It should be long lived in the cellar.