The Wine Independent: 98 Points
The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvee Elizabeth is medium ruby-purple in color. Wow - gorgeous scents of raspberry coulis wild strawberries and rose oil spring from the glass followed by nuances of iris crushed rocks underbrush and pomegranate. The light to medium-bodied palate is so finely knit and elegant with a racy line and fine-grained tannins beautifully defining the red berry and floral layers finishing long and perfumed. Located at 400 to 750 feet elevation the Bodega Headlands Vineyard is very close to the Pacific Ocean and exposed to strong prevailing coastal winds. The soils are primarily composed of fractured sandstone and decomposed marine sediments. Planted in 2000 to a proprietary blend of field selections from two grand cru vineyards in Vosne Romanée according to Catherine Kistler this vineyard tends to give flamboyant perfumed wines with a fruit profile in red berry spectrum. Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown Review date: 2025-01-15
Vinous: 95 Points
Silky aromatic and light on its feet the 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth is a wine of exquisite finesse and understated beauty. Bright acids lift a core of gentle red/purplish fruit in this classy polished Pinot from Occidental. All the elements are so well balanced. - By Antonio Galloni on January 2025 This is a gorgeous set of wines from Steve and Catherine Kistler. Bad weather during flowering reduced the crop significantly to just over one ton per acre the lowest since 2015. That may have ultimately been a blessing in disguise as the Kistlers were able to bring everything in between August 22 and 29 in other words before the Labor Day heat spikes. The entire ranch is planted with the Riparia Gloire rootstock which is notoriously shy-bearing and known for encouraging a relatively short vegetative cycle both benefits in this challenging vintage. The 2022s spent 19-22 days on the skins a few days less than usual as the skins were fragile. All the wines were aged in François Frères barrels (25% new) made from wood selected by Occidental that is then seasoned in France for three years. The 2022s come in around 12.8% in alcohol a touch lower than normal. As a result the wines have a bit less overt density than most years but still have that textured fruit character that is such a signature here. The SWK is the star. If I could have only one of these wines the SWK would be the one. It is among the very finest Pinots of the vintage a pretty select group this year. The Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth is the most immediate of the wines today. The Occidental Station from a warmer site a few miles from the winery is always the most overt and supple of the wines. I tasted the 2022s twice once at the estate and a second time at home. It's always instructive to be able to follow wines over time as any vineyard visit no matter how much time is allotted only offers a snapshot. I also tasted the 2014s at the winery. It's an ideal vintage for drinking now.
Wine Advocate: 95+ Points
The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth is deep and heady on the nose. Youthful pomegranate and rhubarb give way to cinnamon red licorice hibiscus and rooibos tea plus the complex woodsy and spicy undertones characteristic of the Occidental wines. The palate offers concentration without weight flooding the mouth with waves of crunchy saline-laced red fruit. It?s structured by lacy tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long finish with a flourish of spicy accents. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. Published: Jan 16 2025
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