Occidental (Kistler), Running Fence Vineyard Cuvee Catherine, Sonoma Coast

Opened 3 hours prior to consumption but did not decant. “Saline” is the dominant note here, and I like it, followed by bright red fruits finishing with a note of pleasant bitterness. Will sit on my remaining two bottles until secondary/tertiary notes emerge.

2022 vintage

Full bodied Pinot well constructed. Aromas pouring out of the decanter upon open. Well balanced and plushy ripe berries with slight tart profile.

2017 vintage

I like young wines but this does not seem to have settled yet, even with a lengthy decant. Nevertheless, I can sense the potential here. Gorgeous bouquet - Hawaiian Punch on the nose with a touch of clove spice. Definitely red fruits, tart on the palette. Medium finish.

2022 vintage

This is among the best Pinot Nour's I've ever tasted from California but it needs to breathe for at least 2 hours to really show its stuff. Very much taut and seaside Pinot with great succulence of pure cherry fruit and it begins to fan out with air showing beautiful salty mineral flavors and a stunning intensity and complexity on the long and complex finish. Should continue to age well but gorgeous now with sufficient air.

2022 vintage

PNP the first of the case. Young in color with ripe red fruit on the nose. Very elegant and balanced on the palate - plenty of red cherry fruit but in a balanced package that is light on it's feet. Feels squarely in the window. A-

2017 vintage

Fantastic. Smooth. Classic Sonoma Pinot. Cherry cola. Drinking well right now.

2017 vintage

Sparkling medium ruby in the glass. Fairly shy nose of ripe red fruit, earth and wood spice/toast. The mouthfeel is sappy yet light on its feet with a refreshing acidity, persistent if somewhat indistinct fruit, and a distinctive saline/mineral note. A slightly astringent briar-toned finish gives it a bit of complexity. Well made and quite a robust wine for a lower alcohol pinot (12.8% ABV).

2022 vintage

Delicate strawberry and red fruit lead, framed by brisk acidity and salty crushed-stone minerality. Two hours of air bring emerging balance, yet it remains youthful with considerable promise.

2022 vintage

Early taste, PnP. Magenta in the glass, raspberry and dirt on the nose. The tongue tingles; it’s almost effervescent.

2022 vintage

Really performing nicely - not overly heavy - with raspberry and dark cherry - sweet spice is well integrated. Never mistake this as anything but new world, but still balanced.

2017 vintage

Splash decanted 45 minutes. Dark blue fruit in color - no sign at all of age. Blue fruits on the nose. Dark blue and red fruit on the palate but with the balance of earth and minerals. This is young, and not yet fully mature (is my guess) and yet shows a very nice balance of fruit and earth but with more to unfold in the future. Enjoyable now with a bit of air, but should improve and hold for …

2017 vintage

Raspberry, cherry, hints of forest floor. Quite acidic with a balanced finish. Nice.

2017 vintage

(unblind tasting) Still too young, but man so beautiful. Pinot noir sous-bois aromatics turned up high, without any rough edges. Pomegranate, juicy red cherry. Orange peel. Definite oak treatment that brings out a cinnamon/clove character, but completely in balance with the fruit. Every detail so completely balanced. Still ~4-6 years too young. Hope I'm lucky enough to get my hands on another bottle for the cellar.

2017 vintage

A deep purple color with black fruit on finish. Even at this young age it is drinking really well, the potential is clearly there. Quite intense. Tasted at winery

2022 vintage

Didn't give a decant and I felt like it was opening up more when we ran out, but it is ready to drink with a bit of air. Not a fruit bomb, with some forest floor and herbal notes to go with brambly red fruit.

2017 vintage

Surprisingly consistent with the ‘16.

2017 vintage

Vivid deep ruby, nose is lively with red currents / cranberries, the barest hint of spice, rose petals, beeswax. Tart and cleanly delineated fruit on the long palate, fades to an endless saline finish.

2017 vintage

Pnp a couple of these for Christmas dinner. These are still singing! Very complex and elegant. More red fruit forward with a refined level of acidity. Medium-long velvety finish. Similar to what other notes have said, these are very Burgundian in style. These and the SWK's from Occidental are the best American Pinot Noirs I've ever had.

2017 vintage

First pop n pour tasting, after it was up to room temp: Rich deep crimson, highly concentrated looking. Little bit clear on the rim. No signs of age. Nose of black tea, anise, stewed fruit, and a touch of baking spice. On the palate, wine is sound. Med-low tannin, good strong acid, lovely clean finish, maybe a little short, but echoes nose with the black tea predominating. Holy cow what a wine! Drinking very well right now. I would take …

2017 vintage

Simply fabulous, delicious wine

2017 vintage

Corked! My wife almost cried as this is one of our favorite wines

2017 vintage

Wish I took notes on this. This was the best CA Pinot Noir I've ever had. Wish I could find more at a decent price. Occidental keeps getting better and better every year

2017 vintage

A seductive nose of violets, tea leaf and rose pedal. The palate showed blood orange, pomegranate and again tea leaf spice with a mineral streak. Medium acidity and medium plus finish. Lovely.

2017 vintage

Bright ruby in color with a super expressive nose. It's initially a bit shy with the first few sips showing red fruit and spice. It really opens up with decanting 60 minutes or so. Great energy and deep flavors of red fruit that finish with a distinctive saline note that adds to a mouthwatering finish. It continues to open up and pick up depth and a bit of weight with time. This is outstanding now but will get better and …

2017 vintage

At home over two nights. Dark garnet, opaque. Immediate very pronounced aroma of raspberries and blueberries, complex and elegant. Medium-full bodied, wonderful mostly red fruit flavors, nice acidity, no tannin apparent. Slight acetic component, which adds to it. The finish is very smooth and lingering. Very Burgundian style, not a concentrated fruit bomb, but a wonderful, perfectly mature wine. It was just as great the second evening. Ric

2017 vintage

Lacked the punch and elegance that I expected.

2017 vintage

Little to add to the notes below. This is a special bottle - every sip left me with the sense that I was glowing.

2017 vintage

Delicious fabulous wine

2017 vintage

In OCNJ with Chris and Stephanie, first bottle from this vintage. Splash decant, drank over an hour. Medium purple/ruby color. When first opened nose was showing more damp earth and berry...after about 15 minutes it opened to perfumed floral/rose petal, red berry. Palate was layered and elegant, with crushed red fruit, pomegranate. Mineral and saline characteristics through the mid palate. Medium body, medium long finish. This was a standout wine on this evening. There were three of us so this …

2017 vintage

Cherries, dark cherries, herbal notes, hint of spice, clove, very high dry-extract and concentration, long finish but needs alot of time. Outstanding quality 92p with a very high potential

2017 vintage

The ‘17 Cuvee Catherine is gorgeous and already drinking well, while also seeming to have the stuffing and balance to age well. On the nose, the wine was intensely perfumed with clear whole cluster characteristics. I found very sweet red berry fruit, fresh roses, smoke, exotic spices, and fresh sage. On the palate, there is a mass of concentrated, smoky, beautifully sweet red fruit, with the wine adding saline notes and exotic spice towards the finish, which was long with …

2017 vintage

Occidental always blows me away. These pinots are just drop dead gorgeous. What a beauty. Just get these and drink them. This was complex, beautiful, and showstopping with layers and layers of new world Burgundian complexity. Took top place for the entire weekend.

2017 vintage

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Occidental (Kistler), Running Fence Vineyard Cuvee Catherine, Sonoma Coast

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