The Durell Vineyard lies in the southwestern Sonoma Valley, almost in the Carneros appellation. This wine (as with most Kistler Chardonnay's) is a big, voluptuous, full-bodied effort, that will sing to most California Chardonnay lovers. I previously reviewed the 2004 Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay and thought it was quite good. On the nose I get aromas of toast, butter, golden apple, caramel, and ribbon candy. Although I couldn't find the tech data regarding the barrel fermentation, I would bet this wine is aged for some time in new, heavy toast, French oak barrels. It has a distinct smokiness and weight that suggests heavy wood fermentation.
On the palate I get flavors of caramel apple pie, toasted oak, smoke, and butter. This wine (although very delicious) is somewhat one-dimensional in character. It's round and mouth coating, but extremely oak driven and buttery. It doesn't display enough fruit character and is almost all spice and wood. 89 points
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