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.
94+ Points Atonio Galloni
The 2016 Pinot Noir One Acre is another elusive wine in this range, with little of the showiness it presented from barrel. There is plenty of richness and depth, and yet the One Acre remains tightly wound and austere, which makes it hard to read at this stage.
94+ Points Jeb Dunnuck
From a vineyard located at 1,600 feet above sea level, in the Anderson Valley at the very top of the hill, the 2016 Pinot Noir One Acre offers classic Anderson Valley savory, chalky mineral notes as well as plenty of fruit, dried flowers, and spice. It’s rounded, charming, and beautifully textured on the palate, and while it’s already drinking nicely, it’s going to age for over a decade.
