Occidental Wines

Pinot Noir 'Running Fence Vyd - Cuvee Catherine'

Certified Sustainable
100% Pinot Noir
From Occidental’s newest vineyard on the same ridgetop as neighboring Bodega Headlands Vineyards
Planted in 2012 by Steve Kistler
West/Southwest Orientation
Goldridge, sandy loam soils over marine sediment and fossils
Hand-harvested at night
Hand-sorted as clusters before completely destemming
Each vineyard block is fermented separately in 2-4 ton fermenters
Not cold-soaked prior to fermentation
Native yeast fermentation
Punch downs are used only as needed to distribute the heat of fermentation, ensuring a gentle extraction
After fermentation is complete, the tanks are drained and only the free-run wine is transferred by gravity to Francois Frères barrels (25% new) to age 11 months
Native malolactic fermentations
Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a minimum level of SO2 (~50 ppm)
13.3% abv

Info

Producer:

Occidental Wines

Vintage:

2020

Country:

United States

Region:

California

Appellation:

West Sonoma Coast

Variety:

Pinot Noir

Color:

Red

Sizes Available

Full Bottle

US-OCC-40-20

12/750ml

Resources

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Press & Reviews

Wine Advocate

Score

Date

2025-01-16

"Despite the season's wildfires and extreme heat, the 2020 Pinot Noir Running Fence Vineyard Cuvée Catherine is drinking beautifully, though it has tightened since I first tasted it in 2023. We really were just lucky here, Steve Kistler says, with that churn of wind off the ocean to flush things out, and we pick early. We started picking a day before the fires started and had everything in before smoke became part of the conversation. Medium ruby in color, it requires plenty of air to segue from initial wafts of graphite to pomegranate, blackberry, aniseed and Earl Grey tea leaves on the nose. The light-bodied palate offers ethereal flavors framed by powdery tannins and tangy acidity, and it has a long, juicy finish."

REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES

Vinous

Score

Date

2022-01-01

Wine Advocate

Score

Date

2022-07-14

Decanter

Score

Date

2024-04-22

"Named for Stephen Kistler's daughter Catherine, who is the assistant winemaker. This wine was tasted from bottle #C1111. It a soulful hedonism in the bottle. The aromas show a real pungency of forest scents and feral wildness of turned earth; smoked sea salt and soy mark the aromas that are then followed by a smoldering flint minerality. There is a depth to the palate; a smoky richness melds into sappy blackberries and tangy notes of soy and hoisin. This wine dances between the elegance of its florality and earthen mineral core that is framed by a herbal tone of wild anise and chicory root. It's truly glorious."

Jeb Dunnuck

Score

Date

2024-06-28

"Pouring a ripe jeweled ruby/magenta color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Running Fence Vineyard Cuvee Catherine comes from a vineyard situated just outside the winery, which they began planting in 2012 on more well-draining, gravelly soils. The wine is spicy and layered on the nose with umami undertones, boasting a savory marine influence in its notes of black raspberry, brambly red berries, iodine, and incense. It has a good deal of richness in texture, with ripe tannins and a long finish. This is built for the long haul."

Vinous

Score

Date

2024-01-16

"The 2021 Pinot Noir Running Fence Vineyard Cuvée Catherine is gorgeous. Dense and layered, with tremendous vibrancy, the 2021 captures the magic of the West Sonoma Coast in its marriage of fruit intensity and energy. Dark blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and crushed rocks all race across the palate. This really explodes on the back end. All the elements are so well balance, and there's real depth and density here. The mix of suitcase clones on Riparia Gloire rootstock expresses notable darkness and richness, all with the freshness and lower alcohols that are typical of the West Sonoma Coast."

Wine Spectator

Score

Date

2024-02-28

"With a pure, shimmering display of mulberry, damson plum and cherry puree flavors, this stunning red lets the fruit play out with aplomb. Black tea, dried bergamot, rose petal and singed anise notes all add a glistening edge to the lengthy, well-cut finish, where a late minerality emerges. Best from 2025 through 2037. From California.—J.M."

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Pinot Noir 'Running Fence Vyd - Cuvee Catherine'