Occidental Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast Freestone-Occidental 2021

Steve Kistler’s namesake winery became synonymous with California Chardonnay decades ago. Since founding Occidental in 2011, he has become known for California Pinot Noir. With his daughter Catherine, Kistler farms 65 acres of Pinot Noir vines around their newest winery, in the recently created West Sonoma Coast AVA. Kistler’s parcels typify the extreme nature of this developing viticultural area—near the coast, high elevation, blanketed with morning fog and buffeted by afternoon winds. All of that results in yields generally in the skimpy 2 tons per acre range. The resulting wines, however, are anything but skimpy. This bottling brims with pure blackberry and black cherry fruit, enlivened by a light savory note, while an underlying mineral edge adds subtle tension throughout.

Tasting Note

Boasts blackberry and plum fruit enlivened by a light savory thread, while anise and iris notes add range through the sleek, tangy finish. Shows a nice underlying mineral edge, which adds subtle tension throughout. Refined. Drink now through 2030.—James Molesworth