Occidental 'Freestone-Occidental' Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2024You can think of Occidental as the culmination of one of the most brilliant careers in California wine, and at the same time a passing of the torch to the next generation. In this case that torch is burning extremely bright, with Catherine Kistler working alongside her father to put out a small but mesmerizing assortment of absolutely killer Pinot Noir from a series of remote and fog covered vineyards dotting the Sonoma Coast. Silky, smooth, fresh,

Gérard Boudot

a biodynamic producer from Crozes-Hermitage

oak barrels or concrete

offering spice-tinged red berry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half

one that made me smile at the glory of Champagne

This in tandem with Etna’s primary varietal Nerello Mascalese

ripe with red berry aromas

Cuvée Tradition is legendary amongst experienced French wine collectors for its texture

93 points James Suckling

to Henri de Navarre (future Henri IV)

The estate now consists of 10

The broker Guillaume Lawton noted as early as 1815 that “it is very robust