2016 Freestone Occidental Pinot Noir
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental has a bright, open nose of warm cranberry, rhubarb and pomegranate with raspberry and red cherry preserves plus notes of saline, orange peel, autumn leaves, rose petal and stone. Light to medium-bodied, it's packed with juicy red, perfumed fruits in the mouth, with very fine, softly grainy tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and focused. There's a unique coastal signature to this very pretty wine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Possessing a great nose of black raspberries, kirsch, violet, and forest floor, the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental is bright and juicy, with elegance and beautiful purity of fruit. Showing fine tannins, a lovely floral quality, integrated acidity, and a great finish, this is pure class.
Such perfume! Fearsomely powerful, with red fruit that matches all the smoky impact of the oak. Chalky tannins, bright acidity, enough flesh to balance the structure and an overall impression of power that really needs longer to express itself fully. (RH)
About the producer
Steve Kistler is a man who needs little introduction. He founded, and – for almost 40 years – made the wines at, Kistler. Since leaving his eponymous estate in 2017, Kistler has been focused exclusively on Occidental, his new, family winery on the outer edges of the Sonoma Coast.