2021 Occidental "Freestone-Occidental" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Freestone-Occidental prances out with eager-to-please notes of warm cranberries, Morello cherries, and raspberry leaves, leading to wafts of mossy tree bark, wet slate, and iris. The medium-bodied palate is graceful and refreshing, with vivacious fruit and beautiful tension creating an ethereal sense of lift on the finish, keeping you reaching for more. 'This year this label comes exclusively from our properties here, which was always our plan for this wine,' says owner Steve Kistler. (LPB) 96+

With the Kistler family behind this project it's reasonable to expect the wines to deliver top-notch quality and huge scores. What I personally love about Occidental is how much they're leaning into truly cold-climate, savory, bright, West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The 2021 from Occidental is a wonderful example of how grape growing on the edge of feasibility often makes the most compelling wines. This crunchy, fresh, lithe, Pinot Noir is very much on the "Burgundian" end of the spectrum; elegant power and focus. Bright red fruits are taught and spicy, savory forest floor elements abound. Cranberry, pomegranate, rosehip, purple sage, undergrowth. The acidity is pronounced on the palate and lends great length and verve to the wine. There's plenty of fresh, pure fruit here, but the wine also embraces the complex, savory side of the varietal and region, too. Really exciting Pinot Noir from a small part of the coast that has a distinctive sense of place; perfectly executed by a team with no shortage of experience and excellence.