2021 Occidental Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental Sonoma Coast
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Tasting notes
We tasted this after the 2020 single-vineyard expressions, and the difference is immediate – lots of this is destined for restaurants and as their “village” equivalent, it’s designed to be drunk earlier than the other bottlings. It’s open and expressive bright cherry fruit and mouth-watering salinity. It’s got all the delicacy that you expect of the Occidental wines, with pretty floral aromatics. Energizing and vibrant, with fine tannins and a beautifully long finish. Cate and Steve feel this is their best vintage to date – and it’s hard to disagree. It’s just 13.3% alcohol, with around 20% new oak, and irresistible.
Critic scores
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental is a fabulous introduction to this range. Bright and sculpted, the 2021 impresses with its energy, drive and finesse. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, mint, spice, lavender and dried flowers give this mid-weight, nervy Pinot tons of complexity. In this vintage, all of the fruit is from the two estate properties.
This cuvée is released one year before the single-vineyard wines. Pale ruby with a purple hue. Plum and black raspberry on the nose – more giving than the 2020s. The palate has a light smokiness and juicy acidity. Fine tannin and a lengthy, saline, ferrous finish. (SCJ)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental is outrageously beautiful. Rich, heady and explosive, the 2021 is captivating right out of the gate. Inky dark red fruit, blood orange, game, spice, cedar, pipe tobacco, pomegranate and exotic flowers build as this, dense, potent Pinot shows off its tremendous resonance and textural depth. Wow!
About the producer
Steve Kistler is a man who needs little introduction. He founded, and – for almost 40 years – made the wines at, Kistler. Since leaving his eponymous estate in 2017, Kistler has been focused exclusively on Occidental, his new, family winery on the outer edges of the Sonoma Coast.