2011 Bodega Headlands Cuvee Elizabeth Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Planted in 2000, fruit from the Bodega Headlands Vineyard was bottled by Kistler Vineyards (using the same Cuvée Catherine designation that it carries today) from 2004 until 2011, when the Occidental brand was created, and this 2011 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth was crafted at the Kistler Vineyards winery in Forestville. In 2011, "it was rainy and cold out here,” Steve Kistler recalls. “It was a relatively poor set, so the crops were light anyway. We harvested on October 2, a later harvest out here.” It has a medium ruby-garnet color and dynamic aromas of red cherry, tobacco, aniseed, mushroom and foresty undertones. Its structural elements are beginning to soften, giving it a seamless feel, and its fleshy red fruit is accented by tertiary touches of mushroom and mint. It opens dramatically over time and will continue to evolve positively in bottle over the next decade or more.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Whereas the Cuvée Catherine is built on fruit, the 2011 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth is a much more inward, structured wine. Here the flavors are bright, precise and endowed with considerable energy. Cranberry, pomegranate, crushed rocks, rose petals and savory herbs are all supported by veins of underlying acidity and minerality that should allow the 2011 to develop beautifully in bottle. All of the 2011 Pinots have really blossomed over the last year, but none to the extent of the Cuvée Elizabeth, which today is stunning.
The 2011 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvee Elizabeth comes across as cool and inward, reflecting the personality of this site. It is another wine that appears to have considerable potential, as there is plenty of persistence in the glass. Today, the Cuvee Elizabeth is not as expressive as the Cuvee Catherine, but it is very pretty just the same.
The 2011 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvee Elizabeth comes across as cool and inward, reflecting the personality of this site. It is another wine that appears to have considerable potential, as there is plenty of persistence in the glass. Right now, the Cuvee Elizabeth is not as expressive as the Cuvee Catherine, but it is very pretty just the same. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. It is always a pleasure to visit with Steve Kistler and his partner Mark Bixler. The 2011s and 2010s are excellent across the board, although I currently have a preference for the 2011s. Vintage 2011 is shaping up beautifully, for both the Chardonnays and Pinots. As was the case throughout the region, the season was cool and slow to develop. The 2011s were picked at lower sugars than is the norm here, but very much in keeping with the personality of the year. Steve Kistler commented that a poor set in 2011 resulted in their lowest crop loads in years. Like a lot of his colleagues, Kistler noted that the experiences of 2010 had a huge positive impact on how he responded to similar challenges in 2011. The 2010 Chardonnays are beautiful across the board. Although solid, the 2010 Pinots aren’t quite at the level of the superb 2009s and I expect, ultimately, the 2011s. It was a tough vintage for the Pinots. Yields were mercilessly low. Sadly, there is no Cuvee Elizabeth, as the little fruit that came in went into the Kistler Vineyard bottling. Tel. (707) 823-5603
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.