100
From a vineyard fifteen minutes further inland, the 2023 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Vineyard comes from the only site Steve Kistler planted in 1998. Notes of kirschy cherry cordial, fresh lavender, wildflowers, and fresh sage all emerge, and the wine is medium-bodied, floating on the palate with exceptional detail, elegant saltiness, refinement, and a “wow” factor throughout. It benefited from the long, cool growing season. Drink over the coming decades. Drink 2026-2046.
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. The wines for this report were tasted at the estate with Catherine Kistler and her father.