Kistler - Chardonnay 'Les Noisetiers' 2023

All Kistler Chardonnays are produced from one proprietary, heritage California selection that brings low yields, tiny berries, great concentration of both flavor and texture, and naturally low pH with high acids. Planting this one selection of Chardonnay across all vineyards is the realization of Kistler’s vision in 1978 to exhibit a transparency to site in our wines. Yields are 2.5 to 3 tons per acre on average in Chardonnay plantings.

Les Noisetiers is a Multi-Vineyard Wine with a Regional Focus In Burgundy, some wines are labeled Premier Cru without designating a specific site. Kistler applies the same scrutiny of blocks within a given locale and selections are made to heighten the precision of the single vineyard bottlings. Les Noisetiers is focused on the lean, sandy, Goldrige soils where the Russian River and Sonoma Coast overlap which produce a distinct set of earthen, toasted hazelnut aromatics. The primary terroirs that drive Les Noisetiers are Vine Hill, Trenton Roadhouse, Dutton Ranch and Laguna Ridge.

Winemaking is gentle every step of the way Kistler Chardonnay is farmed with great attention to detail and a focus on individual vine balance between fruit and canopy. With focus in the vineyard, the fruit when harvested should be the only ingredient needed to produce exceptional wines. All harvesting is done by hand at night when the fruit is freshest and brightest. Long, gentle whole cluster pressing delivers high quality juice which is directly transferred to barrel and fermented with native yeasts. Full malolactic fermentations are encouraged as the wines are bottled after 10 months on their lees both unfined and unfiltered. Small tartrates may form in the bottle if cooled for prolonged periods of time as a result.

Les Noisetiers has striking aromas of green orchard fruit skins and subtle tones of Marcona almonds. On the palate it reveals a dense, compact nature well buttressed by lively acids. Les Noisetiers is pronounced “Lay Nwaz-tee-yay”.

Producer: Kistler

Country: USA

Region: California

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml