Occidental Freestones 2023

Occidental Freestones, one year on — Sonoma Coast Pinot with the early-cellar integration showing.

Taste
Red cherry, cranberry, dried rose petal, forest floor, and a touch of dried orange peel from the additional bottle age. Lifted, savory, restrained.

Region
From the Sonoma Coast appellation, far-western coastal ridges. Occidental is the Pinot Noir-focused project of Kistler — the same family hands, applied to cool-climate Pinot.

About This Wine
Body: Medium body · Acidity: Bright, integrating · Texture: Silky, fine tannin (more integrated than the 2024)

Best For
Vertical tasting with the 2024, dinner pairing for duck or salmon, gift for an Occidental collector

For Who
California Pinot collectors with a 2024 Freestones already, hosts of duck or salmon dinners, restaurant pros building vertical inventory

Similar To
If you’ve enjoyed the 2024 Freestones, this is one year of additional integration. If you like Kistler Pinot, Littorai, or Williams Selyem West Side, same cool-climate Sonoma Coast register.

Pairing
Wild salmon, duck breast, roast chicken with herbs, mushroom risotto, Korean BBQ (galbi, pork belly), aged Manchego

Drink Window
Drink 2025–2032. In a slightly better window than the 2024 — more integrated already.

Collector Note
Vertical tastings of allocation Pinot work best when the bottles are 1–3 years apart in vintage. Occidental 2023 next to 2024 is a textbook vertical pair — same producer, same site, one year of bottle integration in between. Drink 2023 first; serve at 60–62°F.

Mood
Vertical, savory, dinner-table, library-in-the-making

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I drink the 2023 or 2024 first?
A: Drink the 2023 first if you have both — it’s one year more integrated and ready to pour now. The 2024 will reward 2–3 more years; keep it as the cellar bottle if vertically tasting.

Q: How is Sonoma Coast Pinot different from Russian River?
A: Sonoma Coast (especially the far-western coastal sites Occidental works) is significantly cooler than Russian River — more restrained, more red-fruited, brighter acidity, more Burgundian feel. Russian River Pinot is plusher and more fruit-forward.

Q: Can I cellar this further?
A: Yes — Sonoma Coast Pinot from top sites ages well 5–8 years. The 2023 is in a good window now and will continue to develop through 2032. Store cold; serve at 60–62°F in a Burgundy glass.