2023 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay, Kistler Vineyard

Few names in California Chardonnay command the same quiet reverence as Kistler Vineyards. Founded in 1978 by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler, the estate helped redefine what Californian Chardonnay could be: wines of Burgundian finesse, coastal energy, and unmistakable purity. From the very beginning, Kistler’s philosophy has been simple but uncompromising: single-clone Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from meticulously chosen cool-climate sites, crafted with minimal intervention to express place above all else.

The vineyards, stretching from Carneros to Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, are a mosaic of marine-influenced slopes, volcanic soils, and fog-draped ridges. These conditions yield fruit of extraordinary balance and tension, combining ripe Californian fruit with the structure and minerality reminiscent of Burgundy. Each site from Durrell and Hudson to Dutton Ranch and Les Noisetiers is farmed with obsessive precision, and each cuvée is treated as a distinct voice in the Kistler choir.

In the cellar, the approach is one of restraint and respect: whole-cluster pressing, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and ageing in French oak barrels (typically around 30% new) for about a year. The wines are bottled unfiltered to preserve their natural texture and nuance. Kistler’s Chardonnays are renowned for their seamless integration of richness and minerality, while their Pinot Noirs display a similar harmony: pure fruit framed by fine acidity and supple tannins.

Now under the direction of winemaker Jason Kesner, Kistler continues to embody the very best of California craftsmanship: elegance over excess, precision over power, and a commitment to terroir that rivals the great domaines of the Côte d’Or. In every vintage, Kistler proves that California’s coastal vineyards can speak with the same eloquence and depth as any in the world.