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The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvee Elizabeth is a bright ruby color, and the nose is ripe and expressively perfumed, spiced with black raspberries, cardamom, dark stones, and pine. The palate is medium-framed, with a ripe but compact feel, snappy and crisp, refined tannins, lifted acidity, and an attractive salty spice on the finish. It offers fantastic intensity as well as compact depth and complexity. It’s fabulous all around. Drink: 2026-2040. This wine comes from the second vineyard that Steve Kistler planted out here in 2000.
The estate of Steve Kistler and his family in the Bodega Headlands, Occidental is exclusively devoted to producing coastally influenced Pinot Noir, and they are members of the West Sonoma Coast Vintners Association. Kistler was initially drawn to the area after tasting a bottling of Summa Vineyard that expressed a vivid and more cool climate style. Although Occidental was officially founded in 2011, Steve has been planting vineyards and purchasing property in the area since the 1990s and has retained his original cellar team for the past 30 years. His daughter, Catherine Kistler, has been the assistant winemaker since 2017. Each of the wines tasted for this report are their vineyard-designated selections, which are held back an additional year prior to release.