1997 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch

The flamboyant, Burgundian-styled 1997 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch displays a roasted hazelnut, sweet, rich, tropical fruit-scented nose, full body, and laser-like clarity to its component parts. Rich and intense, it is similar to a tightly-knit Burgundian grand cru. With less minerality yet more of the smoky, leesy, roasted nut characteristics, this wine combines abundant tropical fruit and honeyed citrus. It should be delicious upon release, and keep for 5-7 years. Steve Kistler believes the 1997 Chardonnays are among the finest he has ever produced. The vintage's high yields do not appear to have had an impact on the wines' level of concentration and intensity. Moreover, the 1997's possess an atypical level of tangy, underlying acidity, giving the wines a wonderful vibrancy. The splendid aromatics are matched only by the 1995's. I tasted 8 Chardonnays. While they share a certain similarity, they posssess distinctive attributes that justify the winery's decision to differentiate them. All are fermented with both indigenous and commercial yeasts, given extensive stirring during prolonged contact with the lees, and bottled unfiltered after full malolactic fermentation. The percentage of new French oak varies, with higher percentages for the Camp Meeting Ridge, Hudson, and Cuvee Cathleen offerings. Release date, 3/00. Tel. (707) 823-5603; Fax (707) 823-6709.