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Occidental
About Occidental
Occidental is Steve Kistler’s passion project in the Freestone-Occidental area of California. Established in 2013 for one singular purpose only, the man of unbridled ambition seeks to produce incredible Pinot Noir from the region.
With the help of his daughters, Kistler's new winery was completed just in time to harvest that most coveted and often fickle grape - Pinot Noir in 2013. Truly minuscule production means that many buyers may not have known about the roaring success of Occidental on its very first vintage. Critical scores are also hard to find due to lack of samples, but there were always whispers of an outstandingly beautiful Pinot Noir from the coolest regions of the Freestone-Occidental area.
About Steve Kistler
Steve Kistler is a man of unbridled ambition. Many buyers will be very familiar with Kistler Vineyard - famed for its powerfully expressive yet elegant Chardonnay. The leading cult Californian winery was founded in 1978. The family-run estate's vineyards stretch from Western Sonoma to just North of San Francisco Bay and have produced notoriously rare and sought-after wines for close to four decades.
Occidental Wines
The Occidental wines are produced from vineyards on a southwest-facing ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean, just outside the town of Bodega. This ridge and the surrounding headlands mark the western edge of the Freestone-Occidental area and are among the coldest and latest ripening sites where pinot noir is grown in western Sonoma. The estate produces five wines, including the house blend, Freestone-Occidental, and four single-vineyard Pinots, namely, Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth, Running Fence Cuvée Catherine, SWK Vineyard, Occidental Station Vineyard.
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£529.24 |
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Wine Advocate (95+)The 2018 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental comes mostly from younger vines at the Occidental property but is made with the same attention to detail as the other wines in the portfolio, using free-run juice. Its nose is an aromatic well, offering crushed blueberries, charcuterie, Earl Grey tea leaves, graphite, saline, bitter orange peel and potpourri aromas. In the mouth, it explodes with lush fruits that give way after their initial rush to bitter, citrusy, minerally accents. It has a fine grain, seamless freshness and long, layered finish. It's enjoyable now but will age well over the next five to eight-plus years. |
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California | 5 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£438.04 |
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Vinous (92)The 2020 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental is gracious, aromatic and lifted. All the elements are so well balanced in this very pretty, mid-weight Pinot Noir. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, white pepper and dried flowers all grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Pinot. This might be the most remarkable of all the 2020 Pinots at Occidental, as it is technically the entry-level offering and yet is absolutely exquisite! |
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California | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£599.09 |
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Vinous (93)The 2020 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, game, incense and dried herbs all run through the 2020. Intensely lifted and mineral, the 2020 offers notable energy and fine balance. There's a bit of nerviness in the tannin that needs to resolve. The Cuvée Elizabeth is usually a bit more forthcoming than it is today. I would give this at least a year or two in bottle. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
California | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
In Bond
£425.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95+)The 2018 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental comes mostly from younger vines at the Occidental property but is made with the same attention to detail as the other wines in the portfolio, using free-run juice. Its nose is an aromatic well, offering crushed blueberries, charcuterie, Earl Grey tea leaves, graphite, saline, bitter orange peel and potpourri aromas. In the mouth, it explodes with lush fruits that give way after their initial rush to bitter, citrusy, minerally accents. It has a fine grain, seamless freshness and long, layered finish. It's enjoyable now but will age well over the next five to eight-plus years. |
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|
|
California | 5 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£349.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2020 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental is gracious, aromatic and lifted. All the elements are so well balanced in this very pretty, mid-weight Pinot Noir. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, white pepper and dried flowers all grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Pinot. This might be the most remarkable of all the 2020 Pinots at Occidental, as it is technically the entry-level offering and yet is absolutely exquisite! |
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|
California | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£480.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2020 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, game, incense and dried herbs all run through the 2020. Intensely lifted and mineral, the 2020 offers notable energy and fine balance. There's a bit of nerviness in the tannin that needs to resolve. The Cuvée Elizabeth is usually a bit more forthcoming than it is today. I would give this at least a year or two in bottle. |
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