The Kistler estate thrives in the heart of California’s Sonoma County. This little-known American winegrowing region, somewhat dwarfed by the iconic Napa Valley, is nevertheless a land of great diversity, with a wide range of terroirs producing wines with very distinct aromatic palettes. Sonoma is a particularly hilly region, which protects the landscape from cold winds and where proximity to the Pacific Ocean helps to regulate temperatures. Steve Kistler, who studied at Stanford University and UC Davis and honed his skills working with his brother John Steve, decided to establish his estate in 1978, unveiling his first vintage in 1979. He strives to elevate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to new heights by adapting typical Burgundian growing and winemaking methods to the New World terroir. In the vineyard, yields are carefully controlled and each stage in the winemaking process is performed with little intervention, to produce remarkable cuvées of great finesse.

These Pinot Noir vines, growing on sandy soils, reap the benefits of sustainable agriculture that respects the environment and biodiversity. This gives each vine the freedom to draw all the nutrients it requires from the soil. Following manual nocturnal harvests, the grapes are fully destemmed before undergoing spontaneous fermentation without any pumping over. Lastly, the wine is aged on its lees in wooden casks, 38% of which are new, for around ten months before being carefully bottled, without fining or filtration.
The deep ruby colour reveals an expressive nose characterised by pepper and cherry aromas, along with a few floral touches. The rich, harmonious mouthfeel reveals subtle aromas of spices, within a dense, concentrated texture, leading to a persistent, complex finish. This wine offers great ageing potential.