Occidental By Steve Kistler - Pinot Noir Bodega Ridge 2022 (750ml)
Price: $135.00
| Producer | Occidental By Steve Kistler |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Sonoma Coast |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Sku | 11038 |
| Size | 750ml |
The Wine Independent: 99 Points
Medium ruby-purple in color the 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Ridge Vineyard rolls effortlessly out of the glass with ready to go notes of Morello cherries juicy blackberries and raspberry pie opening out to reveal a strait-laced undercurrent of black truffles allspice charcoal and iron ore. The light to medium-bodied palate delivers tightly knit black and red berry layers with a firm fine-grained texture and impressive tension finishing long and earthy. Irresistible now this should be very long-lived! This vineyard is at the upper level of the Running Fence Vineyard on the apex of the ridge overlooking the Occidental winery below and offering a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. Much of the vineyard is planted on steep south-southeast facing slopes but there is a broad range of aspects here. The soils are shallow low-vigor marine-based sandstones with just enough water-holding capacity to be dry-farmed. The taut muscular wine from here offers a darker fruit and earthy profile. Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown Review date: 2025-01-15
Vinous: 97 Points
The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Ridge Vineyard is a powerful deep wine. A blast of dark red/purplish fruit wildflowers gravel orange peel mint sage and tobacco all open with some reluctance. This is the most virile somber of the wines in this range. The taut vibrant finish is salivating but there is plenty of breadth on the back end waiting to emerge. - By Antonio Galloni on January 2025 This is a gorgeous set of wines from Steve and Catherine Kistler. Bad weather during flowering reduced the crop significantly to just over one ton per acre the lowest since 2015. That may have ultimately been a blessing in disguise as the Kistlers were able to bring everything in between August 22 and 29 in other words before the Labor Day heat spikes. The entire ranch is planted with the Riparia Gloire rootstock which is notoriously shy-bearing and known for encouraging a relatively short vegetative cycle both benefits in this challenging vintage. The 2022s spent 19-22 days on the skins a few days less than usual as the skins were fragile. All the wines were aged in François Frères barrels (25% new) made from wood selected by Occidental that is then seasoned in France for three years. The 2022s come in around 12.8% in alcohol a touch lower than normal. As a result the wines have a bit less overt density than most years but still have that textured fruit character that is such a signature here. The SWK is the star. If I could have only one of these wines the SWK would be the one. It is among the very finest Pinots of the vintage a pretty select group this year. The Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth is the most immediate of the wines today. The Occidental Station from a warmer site a few miles from the winery is always the most overt and supple of the wines. I tasted the 2022s twice once at the estate and a second time at home. It's always instructive to be able to follow wines over time as any vineyard visit no matter how much time is allotted only offers a snapshot. I also tasted the 2014s at the winery. It's an ideal vintage for drinking now.
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Ridge Vineyard has layered aromas of cranberry sauce Earl Grey tea leaves bitters and foresty undertones and it becomes more floral as it airs in the glass. The palate derives power from its sheer concentration of pure expressive spicy fruit. It?s structured by powdery tannins and its tremendously juicy mouthwatering acidity lures you back again and again for another sip. Published: Jan 16 2025
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