The wines of Occidental are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after Pinot Noirs produced on California’s famed Sonoma Coast. Between the high-quality fruit grown on the Kistler family’s 350-acre Bodega property and the precise attention to detail being paid inside the winery, the problem doesn’t lie within the wine itself, rather it is the fact that there is just not enough of it to meet the ridiculously high demand.

From time spent early on in his winemaking career comparing coastal pinot noirs to the wines he was making from some of the best sites in the Russian River Valley, Steve Kistler had a gut instinct that quality and ageability increased as he moved west.

That instinct provoked a combination of land acquisitions by Kistler between 1999 and 2008. He would go on to develop that land into one of the premier vineyard properties in northern California.

Today, Steve and his daughter Catherine farm 85 acres of coastal Pinot Noir with the help of a dedicated vineyard crew, many of whom worked alongside the family during the Kistler Vineyards days.

The Occidental vineyards are planted atop a southern-exposed ridge at elevations of 400-750 feet with views of the Pacific Ocean through a notch in the hills formed by the Estero Americano, one of the several creeks flowing westward through the ranches. These lowlands and watersheds create the natural channels that bring wind and fog from the coast directly through Occidental’s vineyards each and every day.

Occidental’s special place in the world is the driving force behind the prized fruit harvested on the property. And while the conditions on the coast are well-suited to the cultivation of top-notch Pinot Noir, they can also limit yields to less than two tons per acre in difficult vintages. Even then, there are still decisions to be made as to whether the grapes meet the qualifications. Picking is based on flavor, physiological maturity, and on natural acidity, and pH.

The little fruit that does make it into the winery is met with an equal measure of the detail utilized in the vineyard. Each vineyard block is fermented separately to capture as much individual site character as possible. The ambient temperature in the fermentation rooms is around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows the fruit to warm gradually. This activates the native yeasts, and fermentation begins in 7-9 days and is complete in less than three weeks. Punch downs are used only as needed to distribute the heat of fermentation, ensuring a gentle extraction.

Each fermentation generates its own momentum and strength, peaks at its own maximum temperature, and then proceeds to dryness at its own pace with little or no refrigeration. This simple approach to fermentation allows the wine from each vineyard block to develop its own set of aromas and flavors.

After fermentation is complete, the tanks are drained, and only the free-run wine is transferred by gravity to Francois Freres barrels (25% new) to age in a naturally cold underground cellar. Occidental does not own a press and sells its must for other wineries to press.

The Occidental pinot noirs are crystalline wines with vivid aromatics and intense red fruit flavors. They have a wonderfully chiseled quality, layered with a savory and mineral character. The beauty of these maritime sites and the challenging conditions these vineyards face – all of this is reflected in the Occidental wines.

As Mayacama Members continue to enjoy access to some of the highest quality small production wines made in northern California, it is my pleasure to bring you today’s lineup of Occidental Pinot Noir – two current release vintages and one library wine, direct from the Kistler’s family cellar. We were allocated only a small amount of wine for this offer, and so I would not hesitate to place an order sooner rather than later.

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding today’s offer. Thank you for your support!

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

2020 Freestone-Occidental- $65

6-bottle limit

2019 Occidental Station Vineyard- $125

3-bottle limit

2017 Bodega Headlands Vineyard, Cuvée Elizabeth- $125

3-bottle limit

Click here for more information regarding the wines.