2014 Pinot Noir Cuvee Catherine
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Tasting notes
Winery notes: Each year at harvest, Occidental Station is the first vineyard to be picked. Since the fruit always goes into their fermenters first, it does not enjoy the benefit of large populations of yeast already circulating in the winery. Therefore, it is often the slowest to start and may take over three weeks to complete alcoholic fermentation. The extended time in the fermenter only enhances its expressive personality, which features a vibrant purple color, bright natural acidity, and notes of violet, graphite, and cassis. The Occidental Station Pinot Noir is distinctly purple in its fruit character, in comparison to the red-fruited Bodega Headlands and SWK wines. From Stephen Kistler's own operation. Mid crimson with a hint of blue. Pale rim. Beautifully judged sweet Pinot Noir fruit on the nose. (The name of the grape is in tiny letters at the bottom of the back label.) Sweet red fruit but not heavy or sickly. Really fine. Great texture and precision. Appetising, without any obvious alcohol. Lip smacking. Long and truly satisfying without being a copy of Burgundy, Clean and immediately appealing. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvée Catherine is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. A wine of depth, texture and pure pedigree, the 2014 will leave readers weak at the knees. It is every bit that striking. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, pomegranate, mint, spice and dried flowers are some of the notes that give the 2014 its exotic, haunting personality. Dramatic in its fruit intensity and yet also marvelously translucent, the 2014 simply has it all. Time in the glass just brings out more and more of the wine's deep, inherent character.
Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvee Catherine has a youthfully subdued yet staggeringly beautiful perfume of lavender, moss-covered bark, fallen leaves and rose hip tea over a core of pomegranate, kirsch and black raspberries with a waft of wild thyme. Medium-bodied with a taut, very well-structured palate, it has firm, ripe, exquisitely fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone of freshness supporting the intensely fragrant fruit and earth layers, finishing with some mineral hints. It really needs another year or two in bottle and should drink over the next 15+ years.
Aromas of blueberry and blackberry with hints of dark mushroom. Medium to full body with linear fruit and firm and silky tannins. Stone undertones. Cool and racy profile. Drink in 2019.
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.