Littorai is one of the most important producers of chardonnay and pinot noir in the United States. It is the brainchild of Ted Lemon and is dedicated to making wine from fruit sourced only from the western Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. The main focus is on making single-vineyard wines that express the individual characteristics of the site; however there are also two regional blends; one from Sonoma and one from Mendocino.
The estate was established in 1993 after Lemon returned to the US having learned his trade in Burgundy working for a range of producers including Dujac, de Villaine (DRC), Roumier, Bruno Clair and Parent before being appointed winemaker (the first American ever) at famous Meursault producer, Domaine Guy Roulot. Predictably then, his winemaking style takes its lead directly from Burgundy and follows a reasonably straight-forward and non-interventionist approach. All the pinots are cold soaked (vintage dictates for how long), they undergo indigenous yeast fermentation, some stems are included where possible and the wines are almost never racked. The single-vineyard wines see approximately 50% new oak and the regional blends about 30%.
As much as is possible organic and biodynamic principles are used in the vineyards and cellar practices also reflect this ethic.
95 Points James Suckling
Rustic and red rock sort of character with tile. Dried cherry. Medium body, fine tannins that are velvety at the same time. Lovely length and beauty. Intellectual wine.
94 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard has a lovely earth-dominated nose with notes of tar, black soil, underbrush and fungi over a core of mulberries, black berries and black cherries plus a hint of anise. Light to medium-bodied, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and uplifting acidity supporting the muscular, earthy flavors, finishing chewy. 550 cases were made.
