Littorai
About Littorai
The husband and wife team of Ted and Heidi Lemon, behind Sonoma County based winery Littorai, are a truly unique pairing. Their low-intervention, cool-climate Pinot wines have become some of the most sought-after in all of California.
 Ted started his career in Burgundy, working at some of the region's top estates. When he was made winemaker and vineyard manager of Domaine Guy Roulot in Meursault, he was first American ever to hold such a position in Burgundy. Heidi has also worked for some of the world's top producers on the other-side of the Atlantic, namely California's Robert Long Vineyards and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. Their experiences create a perfect blend of New and Old World winemaking.
 Establishing their family-run winery in 1993, their mission with Littorai was to find the best spot to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with minimal intervention winemaking along the coastal zones of the US. They searched the West Coast before finally finding their top spot in the 'true' north of California - the coastal mountains of Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,424.98 |
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Vinous (93+)The 2016 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is powerful, shut down and not at all expressive. There is plenty of depth and persistence, but the Cerise is nowhere near ready to show all of its cards. Chalk, white pepper and mint add striking aromatic top notes, but the Cerise needs time in bottle to be at its most expressive. Today, the wine is decidedly clenched. |
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California | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,510.18 |
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Vinous (94+)Littorai's 2016 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, but it also is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as the tannins are quite piercing at this early stage. Chalk, white pepper, mint, blood orange and red berry fruit give the Hirsch its distinctive aromatic signatures. As promising as the 2016 is, there is not much pleasure to be found today. Readers should plan on being patient. |
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California | 1 | 89 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,540.18 |
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Vinous (89)Just as it was from barrel, the 2017 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard shows the effects of heat spikes that were especially challenging at this estate. Dried fruit, roasted notes, washed out flavors and mid-weight structure are impossible to escape. I had hoped élevage might help the Hirsch come together, but that never really happened. I would prefer to drink the 2017 on the early side. |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£864.58 |
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|
California | 3 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£787.24 |
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James Suckling (97)Dried-floral nose, accented by notes of black cherries and a hint of lime leaf. Medium-bodied with tight tannins. Lots of freshness and brightness on the palate. There is depth and complexity, but it’s all in harmony. Paprika and allspice come through. Such a delightful wine, bridging intensity with freshness. Drink or hold. |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£147.85 |
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|
California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£102.25 |
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|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,234.18 |
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Vinous (94)The 2017 Pinot Noir The Pivot Estate Vineyard is one of the more elegant, perfumed wines in this range. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry, mint and rose petals give the 2017 a good bit of aromatic freshness to match is lifted, mid-weight personality. This is an especially layered, nuanced Pinot. |
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|
California | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£465.64 |
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Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard Block E marries fruit intensity and structure with stunning balance. On the palate, the Wendling is huge, and yet the tannins perfectly wrap everything together. Black cherry, licorice, spice and tobacco bring out darker shades of Pinot expression. The 2019 is an especially virile Wendling. It will be interesting to see if time softens some of that brooding intensity. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
California | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,149.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93+)The 2016 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is powerful, shut down and not at all expressive. There is plenty of depth and persistence, but the Cerise is nowhere near ready to show all of its cards. Chalk, white pepper and mint add striking aromatic top notes, but the Cerise needs time in bottle to be at its most expressive. Today, the wine is decidedly clenched. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,220.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94+)Littorai's 2016 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, but it also is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as the tannins are quite piercing at this early stage. Chalk, white pepper, mint, blood orange and red berry fruit give the Hirsch its distinctive aromatic signatures. As promising as the 2016 is, there is not much pleasure to be found today. Readers should plan on being patient. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 89 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,245.00 |
|||||
Vinous (89)Just as it was from barrel, the 2017 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard shows the effects of heat spikes that were especially challenging at this estate. Dried fruit, roasted notes, washed out flavors and mid-weight structure are impossible to escape. I had hoped élevage might help the Hirsch come together, but that never really happened. I would prefer to drink the 2017 on the early side. |
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|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£682.00 |
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|
California | 3 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£640.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Dried-floral nose, accented by notes of black cherries and a hint of lime leaf. Medium-bodied with tight tannins. Lots of freshness and brightness on the palate. There is depth and complexity, but it’s all in harmony. Paprika and allspice come through. Such a delightful wine, bridging intensity with freshness. Drink or hold. |
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|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£120.00 |
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|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£82.00 |
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|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£990.00 |
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Vinous (94)The 2017 Pinot Noir The Pivot Estate Vineyard is one of the more elegant, perfumed wines in this range. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry, mint and rose petals give the 2017 a good bit of aromatic freshness to match is lifted, mid-weight personality. This is an especially layered, nuanced Pinot. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£372.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard Block E marries fruit intensity and structure with stunning balance. On the palate, the Wendling is huge, and yet the tannins perfectly wrap everything together. Black cherry, licorice, spice and tobacco bring out darker shades of Pinot expression. The 2019 is an especially virile Wendling. It will be interesting to see if time softens some of that brooding intensity. |