2021 Occidental, Freestone-Occidental Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California, USA

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Description

Steve and Catherine Kistler are both delighted about the quality of their 2021 vintage of their ‘village’ level Freestone-Occidental wine. As Catherine says, “In 2021, we produced our best Freestone-Occidental wine to date. It approaches the quality of our single-vineyard offerings, and we are so proud of it.”

Having tasted the wine, we completely agree. The energy in this wine is evident even from its vibrant purple red colour. The nose is elegant with intense, yet fresh, scented raspberries, hints of wild mint and garden sage. It is fragrant with a floral edge and wonderful, mineral aromas of wet granite that lift up from the glass.

The flawless fruit continues on the palate - yet what makes this wine absolutely thrilling is its amazing energy and singing freshness. It is so focused and complete, with an impeccably pure, red-cherry kernel core, all framed by a fine, pebble stone minerality. Barely-there, melting tannins ensure the finish lingers on and on. This is a Pinot to bring pure joy; it is sophisticated, mineral-fresh and utterly delicious.

Drink 2024 - 2035

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (March 2023)

Colour Red

Sweetness Dry

Vintage 2021

Maturity Ready - youthful (2024 - 2034)

Grape List Pinot Noir

Body Full Bodied

Producer Occidental

About this wine

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

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Occidental

Occidental is dedicated exclusively to the production of world class Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.  The state-of-the-art winery is just east of the town of Bodega on a ridge top, next to the Bodega Headlands Vineyard, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Following a hugely successful career at eponymous winery Kistler, Occidental is very much Steve Kistler’s family led project to make the best Pinots California has to offer. The Occidental Station vineyard lies 15 miles further inland than the estate’s other vineyards. It was planted in 1998 by Steve Kistler, who has farmed the plot himself every year thereafter. It is the one wine in the range that is from a completely different ridge, on a site that is picked two weeks earlier than everywhere else. It is therefore a riper style yet one that is still undeniably ‘Occidental’. The Freestone-Occidental Pinot noir includes a blend of fruit from Bodega Headlands, Occidental Station, and Bodega Ridge vineyards. It also shares the same winemaking techniques as the vineyard-designated Pinot, the only difference being that the provenance is wider.

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Delivery and Quality Guarantee

Free delivery on orders over £200.
Wines and spirits purchased from Berry Bros. & Rudd can be stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse.
Every bottle sold by Berry Bros. & Rudd is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine or spirit is corked or faulty, we will replace it.