After establishing his eponymous winery as one of the leaders in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from both Napa and Sonoma, Steve Kistler has branched out and begun a new winery, and named it Occidental.
Steve's new winery is a slight diversion from his prior one. The Kistler wines come from prime vineyards throughout Sonoma and Napa Counties, but the name Occidental (which comes from the Latin word for "western") gives a clue to the difference in these wines, as the vineyards for Steve's new project come from vineyards that lie in the far western reaches of Sonoma County, near the coast. The vineyard sites were chosen so the grapes would achieve total maturity at lower sugar levels, yet maintain fresh acidity.
Steve Kistler had already taken notice of this cool, wind-swept region in the early 2000s, as he planted two vineyards in the area and bottled them under the "Cuvee Elizabeth" and "Cuvee Catherine" designations for the Kistler wines. The microclimate of this area results in a wine with more moderate alcohol levels, more freshness, yet continue to be full-flavored. This Occidental bottling comes from 3 of his other vineyards: Bodega Headlands, Occidental Station, and Bodega Ridge. This wine shares the same winemaking techniques as his vineyard-designated pinot noirs, and is fermented with native yeasts and native Malo-Lactic bacteria.
WINE SPECTATOR 95 POINTS - "A tightly focused beam of bitter cherry, damson plum and raspberry coulis streams through this red, with mouthwatering cut in the form of ocean breeze minerality that runs throughout. Iris and rose hip notes fill in the background as the long, piercing finish shows a remarkably pure and unadorned feel. A high-definition Pinot. Drink now through 2035."
Steve's new winery is a slight diversion from his prior one. The Kistler wines come from prime vineyards throughout Sonoma and Napa Counties, but the name Occidental (which comes from the Latin word for "western") gives a clue to the difference in these wines, as the vineyards for Steve's new project come from vineyards that lie in the far western reaches of Sonoma County, near the coast. The vineyard sites were chosen so the grapes would achieve total maturity at lower sugar levels, yet maintain fresh acidity.
Steve Kistler had already taken notice of this cool, wind-swept region in the early 2000s, as he planted two vineyards in the area and bottled them under the "Cuvee Elizabeth" and "Cuvee Catherine" designations for the Kistler wines. The microclimate of this area results in a wine with more moderate alcohol levels, more freshness, yet continue to be full-flavored. This Occidental bottling comes from 3 of his other vineyards: Bodega Headlands, Occidental Station, and Bodega Ridge. This wine shares the same winemaking techniques as his vineyard-designated pinot noirs, and is fermented with native yeasts and native Malo-Lactic bacteria.
WINE SPECTATOR 95 POINTS - "A tightly focused beam of bitter cherry, damson plum and raspberry coulis streams through this red, with mouthwatering cut in the form of ocean breeze minerality that runs throughout. Iris and rose hip notes fill in the background as the long, piercing finish shows a remarkably pure and unadorned feel. A high-definition Pinot. Drink now through 2035."