Kistler Laguna Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

The Laguna Ridge vineyard sits on layers of sandstone, granular sediments and shards of petrified wood. The Chardonnay Kistler produces from this site is one of extraordinary expression, precision and beauty marked by bold aromas of yellow citrus rind, roasted hazelnuts and hints of petrol as well as beeswax, alongside a sanguine, lasting finish.

95/100 - The 2017 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard features scents of baclava, baked apples, quince paste, lime peel and warm yellow peaches with notions of gunflint, hazelnut, citrus blossoms and crushed stone. Medium-bodied with a lovely creamy texture, it has intense flavor layers, uplifting tangy acidity and a very long, flavorful finish. This is only produced in magnums. - Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate

95+/100 - Easily the biggest wine in this range, the 2017 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge is rich and unctuous in feel. Orange confit, dried flowers, herbs and light honeyed notes all develop in the glass, but it is the wine's oily, waxy feel that is its most distinctive attribute. This is a flamboyant wine from Kistler. Even so, there is plenty of backing structure and enough pedigree to allow it to develop nicely in the cellar. The Laguna Ridge is bottled only in magnum. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous 

96/100 - The first vintage of this sexy, opulent white was 2015. It’s bottled only in magnum because it needs to age. It’s like a dense, deep, powerful white Burgundy, with flavor notes of golden apples, lemon zest, oyster shell chalkiness and a very specific waxy texture. The ridge-top vineyard, also planted with Pinot Noir, looks west to the Pacific and east to the Russian River Valley. - Elin McCoy, Decanter