Kistler Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain McCrea Vineyard 2021

97 points James Suckling: "This is grippy and intense with so much dried fruit with pineapple, grapefruit skin and lemon and lime. Full body, dense and layered with a bright and intense finish. Very contrasting and powerful wine, but it feels energized at the end. (3/21/23)"

95+ points Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard has a powerful expression, with highly concentrated flavors and generous, juicy acidity. Wafts of iodine, seaweed and lemon peel give way to undertones of almonds and beeswax waiting to emerge. Medium-bodied and lively, the palate catches you off guard with its bursts of concentrated, grapefruit-tinged flavors, tangy acidity and satiny mouthfeel, and a touch of grip draws out the candied-citrus finish. It deserves 2-3+ years to unfold in bottle and will be long lived. Drink: 2024-2035. (8/31/23)"

95 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "A youthful golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard offers aromas of golden fruits, wet stone, chamomile, and pineapple rind. Medium to full-bodied, it has good energy throughout, with a chalky texture and ripe fruit of peach, orange zest, and a hint of savory saline. With fantastic warming spice and a finish that lasts for days, it’s well-balanced and long on the palate, with good freshness. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.Located in the Russian River Valley, Kistler is led today by winemaker Jason Kesner, who continues the long tradition of working from a singular clone of Chardonnay with Burgundian lineage that Steve Kistler, now of Occidental Wines, began in the 1980s. The 2021s were all tasted at the winery with Jason this May. Across the board, the wines from this vintage carry a savory profile that’s less about its fruit character and more about texture and sense of place, expressing a haunting sense of power and range. These are wines that I sometimes find difficult to pin down into words, but they are truly worth experiencing for yourself. (7/21/23)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "A hint of flint joins a grilled peach note alongside a litsea oil accent, giving this generous and distinctive version an appealingly savory opening, with crushed rock details. Offers a touch of chalk, with more generous fruit flavors of pineapple, mango and tangerine. Elements of tarragon and lemon basil join a lingering note of jasmine on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2036. (4/24/24)"

94 points J'nai Gaither (Decanter): "After a double decant as suggested by winemaker Jason Kesner, the butterscotch and nutty aromas calm down a bit, but give way to a rich full, roundness with perfectly integrated acidty on the palate. It's a joy to taste such a well-made and intriguing wine. This wine is staunchly confident in its composition yet doesn't overpower. Drinking Window: 2023-2030. (8/17/23)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, deep and super-expressive, the 2021 offers a beguiling mix of intense mineral-driven savoriness with a tropical flair I don't recall seeing in this wine before. A Chardonnay of structure and intensity, the McCrea is superb in 2021. The density of low yields comes through loud and clear. This is a fabulous McCrea. As always, the vineyard designate wine emerges from portions of the vineyard with white volcanic soils, while blocks planted on reddish soils are used for the Sonoma Valley Chardonnay that is typically sold only into restaurants. Drink: 2024-2031. (Aug 2023)"