Benchmark Wines by

Occidental

The Winery

Occidental

Layers of rich, textured fruit build to the intense, breathtaking finish. This remarkably vivid, pedigreed Pinot Noir simply has it all. What a wine.
–Antonio Galloni

Founder and winemaker of the esteemed Chardonnay-producing Kistler Vineyards, Steve Kistler, launched a Pinot Noir label called Occidental in 2011. The wines are produced from fruit coming from three different vineyards in the Freestone-Occidental AVA in Sonoma: Bodega Headlands, SWK Vineyard, and Occidental Station. Because of their proximity to the Sonoma Coast, there are extremely low corp levels in these vineyards, and the wine produced maintains its acidity as well as balance and richness from the native yeast fermentation practice and small usage of new oak treatment. Occidental wines are a true testament to Steve Kistler’s passion and continue to show expressions of fruit that is true to the site.

www.occidentalwines.com

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Tasting Notes

WA98
As good as the Cuvée Catherine is, there is another Occidental Pinot that is also profound. The 2012 Pinot Noir SWK Vineyard also comes from his 65 acres planted in Occidental. This is a 1,000-case cuvée from a site that sits above the Bodega Headlands Vineyard. With a dark ruby color like its siblings, it is made from 100% Calera and sees only about 30% new French oak. This wine offers a copious mouthful of red, blue and black fruits, medium to full body, terrific acidity, and intense black raspberry and black cherry fruit along with spring flowers, forest floor and spice box. This is a stunning, super-complex, compelling Pinot Noir to drink over the next decade or more.

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