Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022

Region and Vineyards

The Sonoma Coast AVA is a vast, maritime-influenced zone defined by fog, ocean breezes, and cooler temperatures—ideal for delicate, slow-ripening grape varieties such as Pinot Noir. This cuvée is composed of fruit sourced from young vines in western Sonoma County, planted in the Goldridge series soils, a fine sandy loam over volcanic ash known for exceptional drainage and a signature expression of minerality and brightness in wines.

These multi-vineyard selections serve as a cradle for future single-vineyard bottlings, incorporating fruit from plots that are still maturing in complexity. This practice allows Kistler to anticipate the long-term potential of each site while crafting a nuanced, expressive regional Pinot Noir that encapsulates the coastal terroir.

Winemaking

The 2022 vintage marked the second in a trio of cooler, wetter growing seasons. Beneficial winter rains helped refresh drought-stressed soils, while spring remained cool and verdant, with a mild, steady summer leading to slow, even ripening. The estate harvested before the Labor Day heat wave, capturing the grapes at their peak freshness with optimal acid balance and moderate ripeness.

Fruit is harvested by hand and sorted meticulously before undergoing a native whole-berry fermentation in open-top fermenters. There is no pressing—only free-run juice is used, ensuring elegance and purity. The wine is matured for 10 months in French oak, of which 35% is new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, allowing the natural character of the vintage and site to take center stage.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Light to medium ruby, with clarity and youthful brilliance.
• Aroma: Wild strawberries, red currant, and dried rose petals with undertones of orange zest and crushed granite.
• Palate: Lithe and precise, with bright acidity, silky tannins, and a delicate core of red cherry and pomegranate. A saline minerality lingers through the finish, reflecting the coastal influence and Goldridge soils.

Did you know?

This wine offers a preview of future single-vineyard bottlings from Kistler. The fruit used comes from carefully tended young vines not yet deemed ready for standalone designation, but already showing complexity and pedigree—a glimpse into tomorrow’s grand crus of Sonoma Coast.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Grilled duck breast with cranberry reduction – Echoes the red fruit profile and brings harmony to the wine’s acidity.
• Seared tuna with sesame and soy glaze – Umami richness meets the wine’s vibrancy and freshness.
• Roasted beet and goat cheese salad – Complements the wine’s floral and earthy notes.
• Porcini risotto with Parmesan – Enhances the subtle forest floor character and soft structure.

History of Kistler

Founded by Steve Kistler in 1978, Kistler Vineyards quickly established itself as a benchmark producer of Chardonnay in the United States. The original vision was inspired by the great domaines of Burgundy, emphasizing low yields, meticulous viticulture, and minimal intervention winemaking. Initially producing only Chardonnay, Kistler later expanded to include Pinot Noir, following the same precise philosophy.

The estate remained a small, family-run business with limited production and a strong allocation-based distribution model, which helped build its cult reputation. In 2008, winemaker Jason Kesner joined the team, bringing with him a deep understanding of vineyard management. He became president and winemaker in 2017, continuing the estate's tradition while modernizing certain aspects, particularly in refining site expression and achieving even greater purity and balance.

Kistler today sources fruit from a range of exceptional sites across the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, including some estate-owned and others under long-term lease and meticulous control. The producer is known for its deep commitment to single-vineyard bottlings, each expressing a distinct terroir while maintaining a common thread of elegance and restraint.

Region and Vineyards

Kistler farms vineyards exclusively in Sonoma County, primarily within the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley AVAs, regions celebrated for their cool-climate conditions ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Morning fog, cool maritime breezes, and varied soils—ranging from sandy loam to volcanic ash and red Sebastopol series soils—enable a slow, even ripening that enhances complexity and structure in the wines.

A hallmark of Kistler's viticulture is their use of heritage clone selections, particularly their own proprietary selections refined over decades. Vineyards are managed to low yields (often under 2.5 tons per acre), with intensive canopy management and hand-harvesting done exclusively at night. Sites like Laguna Ridge and Occidental express unique geological and climatic profiles, captured through Kistler’s precision farming and clonal adaptation.

Wine Range of Kistler

Kistler produces a focused range of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a strong emphasis on single-vineyard expressions. Notable bottlings include the Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay, Les Noisetiers Chardonnay, Durell Vineyard Chardonnay, Cuvée Cathleen, and Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir, each reflecting a unique terroir. The wines are known for their balance of intensity, elegance, and minerality, with aging potential and a Burgundian sensibility rarely matched in California.

The estate also produces a Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which blend fruit from various vineyard sites to offer a broader expression of the region while maintaining Kistler’s exacting standards.

Did you know?

Kistler's house style is so distinct and consistent that its Chardonnays have often been compared to Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet in blind tastings—even by Burgundian producers themselves. The estate ferments all its Chardonnay in barrel using only native yeasts and avoids malolactic adjustment or enzyme use, capturing a vivid expression of site and vintage.