In light of the ongoing wildfires in Northern California, Prime Cellar would like to offer these amazing wines from Sonoma to remind everyone why we love Sonoma wine!
2005 KISTLER CUVÉE CATHLEEN CHARDONNAY
$198/bottle
96-100 points, Robert Parker
The 2005 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen is a selection of the finest lots from all the vineyards, but most of it comes from the Kistler Vineyard. Full-bodied, firm, and backward, it is behaving more like a red wine than a Chardonnay. It boasts fabulous concentration, superb ripeness, plenty of honeysuckle, orange rind, and tropical fruit characteristics, copious minerality, and enormous length as well as richness. This beauty is as good as any Chardonnay made in either the New or Old World.
2012 JOSEPH PHELPS PINOT NOIR FREESTONE VINEYARDS
$38/bottle
91 points, Robert Parker
The 2012 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards offers up beautiful aromas of red stone fruits, crushed rocks, plums, black cherries and a floral component reminiscent of a premier cru or grand cru offering from Chambolle-Musigny. Medium to full-bodied with great acidity, purity, freshness and nobility, it should evolve and add layers of complexity over the next decade.
2001 MARCASSIN MARCASSIN PINOT NOIR, SONOMA
$280/bottle
90 points, Robert Parker
From barrel, this wine received a high rating, but in subsequent bottle tastings, this narrowly constructed, lean, muscular, moderate tannic Marcassin Pinot Noir continues to disappoint. It is still an outstanding Pinot, but in the league of great Pinot Noirs made by Marcassin from their Estate Vineyard on the Sonoma coast, the 2001 has usually left me wanting more. The wine still has a youthful, crisp, acid edge and is medium-bodied with moderate tannin as well as more red fruits, such as cranberries and red currants, along with forest floor, earth and spice notes. The finish is somewhat abrupt, and those who prefer austere, angular Pinot Noirs will enjoy it more than the richer, more showy vintages (i.e., 2000 and 2002).
2014 KISTLER “KISTLER VINEYARD” PINOT NOIR, SONOMA COAST
$75/bottle
94 points, Wine Advocate
The Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir is produced mainly from Calera clone with some Swan clone contribution. Pale to medium ruby-colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard has a beautiful earthy nose of tree bark, underbrush and black soil over a core of cranberries and red currants plus a hint of Provence herbs. Medium-bodied and elegantly fruited in the mouth, the delicate red berry and earth flavors are well-supported by fine, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long.
2013 KISTLER “SWK VINEYARD” PINOT NOIR, SOMOMA COAST
$145/bottle
90 points, Robert Parker
The 2013 Pinot Noir SWK Vineyard, is 100% destemmed, ripe but more restrained, spicy and well-made, with good upside, but needs another 1-2 years of bottle age.
