Mays Canyon (aka Porter-Bass Vineyard) is an SVD that I tend to think of as more of an early drinker in the Littorai lineup. I need to stop that. This has the sea spray, Kalamata, black truffle, and sweet decay that its weightier cousins add with sufficient age, but with a more sprightly acidity that suggests it has years to go, and some delicious Asian-inspired aromatics (ginger/hoisin).
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Hanging in there but past peak with tertiary spice. The remaining fruit gives the suggestion of Botrytis. Full in body but the weight isn't met by power. Acidity remains high.
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Blind, typical Chardonnay notes to the n’th degree, very intense, very rich, very long seems youthful, incredibly well balanced. One of the greatest Chardonnay’s I’ve ever had. Will drink well for another decade at least.
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Last bottle. This bottle seemed possibly past its peak from last year. There wasn't much depth as the previous taster noted and felt the finish was lacking. Decent but nowhere near as good as last year.
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Good acidity and lemony freshness. This has weathered the years since release well, and is clearly well-made from good grapes. But at this stage there should be a depth to the wine and there isn't much. Most of the palate interest is still from wood tones and I don't see a presence of tertiary complexity, soil-driven terroir, or minerality. So in that regard it's still like 99% of California Chard at the end of the day and kinda depressing to drink.
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San Francisco; 4/15/2014-4/18/2014 (San Francisco Area): Part of the lean and focused, not vanilla and butter White California. Chabliesque in style, focused, lean, mineral. Green apple. Sees neutral oak enough to leave a trace of exotic edge which helps. Pure and very good . 92
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Nice example of Litorai's departure from the normal California chardonnay profile. More Burgundian in style than most Californians. Lemon, Brule, minerals, balanced acidity, well made, last bottle, wish I had more....would be fun to see how this would develop over time.
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Good wine but a bit thin and for a wine at this price I expect more. Some floral notes on the nose and on the palate slight honey and floral with some mid palate minerals. I was disappointed in this as Littorai has become one of my favorite California wineries and did measure up to my expectations.
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Similarly lean nose, like the Thieriot, a bit more floral. Rounder and fuller on the palate than the Thieriot, but I don't like it as much. Still quite nice. 91-92
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8/23/2021 - KL1191 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mays Canyon (aka Porter-Bass Vineyard) is an SVD that I tend to think of as more of an early drinker in the Littorai lineup. I need to stop that. This has the sea spray, Kalamata, black truffle, and sweet decay that its weightier cousins add with sufficient age, but with a more sprightly acidity that suggests it has years to go, and some delicious Asian-inspired aromatics (ginger/hoisin).
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8/12/2020 - rlove wrote: 90 Points
Hanging in there but past peak with tertiary spice. The remaining fruit gives the suggestion of Botrytis. Full in body but the weight isn't met by power. Acidity remains high.
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6/8/2020 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blind, typical Chardonnay notes to the n’th degree, very intense, very rich, very long seems youthful, incredibly well balanced. One of the greatest Chardonnay’s I’ve ever had. Will drink well for another decade at least.
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8/8/2019 - gsiokis wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle. This bottle seemed possibly past its peak from last year. There wasn't much depth as the previous taster noted and felt the finish was lacking. Decent but nowhere near as good as last year.
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7/18/2019 - DollarMenunaire wrote:
Good acidity and lemony freshness. This has weathered the years since release well, and is clearly well-made from good grapes. But at this stage there should be a depth to the wine and there isn't much. Most of the palate interest is still from wood tones and I don't see a presence of tertiary complexity, soil-driven terroir, or minerality. So in that regard it's still like 99% of California Chard at the end of the day and kinda depressing to drink.
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1/27/2018 - gsiokis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking extremely well. Had with homemade Chicken Piccata. Stone fruit and lemon curd.
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1/25/2018 - bkc1428 wrote: flawed
Horribly corked.
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6/26/2016 - lzelman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic Chardonnay. Really enjoyed it. Great flavor with excellent crispness.
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4/16/2014 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
San Francisco; 4/15/2014-4/18/2014 (San Francisco Area): Part of the lean and focused, not vanilla and butter White California. Chabliesque in style, focused, lean, mineral. Green apple. Sees neutral oak enough to leave a trace of exotic edge which helps. Pure and very good . 92
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1/18/2014 - tvinob2 wrote: 92 Points
Nice example of Litorai's departure from the normal California chardonnay profile. More Burgundian in style than most Californians. Lemon, Brule, minerals, balanced acidity, well made, last bottle, wish I had more....would be fun to see how this would develop over time.
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11/2/2013 - bzell Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good wine but a bit thin and for a wine at this price I expect more. Some floral notes on the nose and on the palate slight honey and floral with some mid palate minerals. I was disappointed in this as Littorai has become one of my favorite California wineries and did measure up to my expectations.
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11/23/2012 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Lemon, citrus, mineral notes, good finish.
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4/18/2012 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Similarly lean nose, like the Thieriot, a bit more floral. Rounder and fuller on the palate than the Thieriot, but I don't like it as much. Still quite nice. 91-92
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