2007 Kistler "Cuvée Elizabeth - Bodega Headlands Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

“Following the brilliant success of Kistler’s 2007s, Steve Kistler and his sidekick, Mark Bixler, deserve kudos for what they have achieved in the more challenging 2008 vintage. This is the first vintage in which 100% of the fermentations were indigenous, and, fortunately, all their Sonoma Coast vineyards were far enough south that they were not tainted by any of the smoke from the ferocious fires that spread through Mendocino. (RP)” (02/2010)

“Glass-staining ruby. Aromas of raspberry, licorice, sexy potpourri and Asian spices are lifted by a smoky mineral topnote. Dense, sappy and penetrating, with a deep sweetness and lovely inner-mouth perfume to the red berry, floral and spice flavors. Impressively large-scaled yet suave and vibrant owing to its superb balance and intense minerality. Finishes with striking aromatic persistence and lingering floral notes. (ST)” (05/2010)

“Austere, with a pleasant briny, flinty, oyster shell texture. Underneath, there's trim ripe berry flavors that gain richness and dimension. Quite tannic. Needs time. A strikingly distinctive Kistler. (JL)” (09/2012)

“This is also extremely ripe with spiced poached plum and menthol aromas that do not make the wine's "pinot noir-ness" especially evident. This is also a dramatic wine that lacks elegance but here the amount of extract is genuinely impressive and it renders the supporting tannins almost invisible on the reasonably long finish. The problem is that, while difficult to easily convey, this feels somewhat forced and a bit over extracted but as with the Catherine, fans of power pinot will love this.” (10/2010)