2019 Freestone-Occidental Pinot Noir, Occidental, Sonoma Coast
Occidental is a project from Steve and Catherine Kistler who stepped back from their eponymous brand recently. Their 2019 Pinot Noir (Freestone Occidental) is a blend of mostly young vines and is elegant, fresh, but with beautiful concentration that belies its price point. It spent just under a year in 25% new French oak, and has a lovely floral note alongside crunchy red berry fruit and refreshing mint.