Beautifully aromatic. Shows loads of dark fruit, along with mushroom and earthy flavors. Tertiary, bricking color. A bit of heat on the finish. Drinking nicely.
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Red fruit, mushrooms, roses on the relatively complex nose. Tannins are integrated and pretty fine. Cherries and more red fruit on the palate. Medium+ finish.
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Dinner with Mike Grammer (Francisca's (3047 Mission St)): Gorgeous nose with red fruit, allspice; palate is light, red fruit, simpler than the nose; finish short-medium. The nose was very promising, but the palate was a bit short and lacking in fruit, seemed like it was past its peak. 89
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1.5 hour decant. Bright nose of allspice, red fruit and citrus, with very rich silky palate of fresh red raspberry. Potent back palate and fruity finish with fine balance. Markedly better than previous bottle, was that a one off or indicative of bottle variation?
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One of the best aged littorai I've had. Black tea, mushrooms, leaves, earth, dark dark dark and dry. Very much a thinking wine. Savoy and complex and yet you would guess 5 years old and not 12. I think I would have said corton or maybe pommard. Either way, this shows no sign of declining. Pretty amazing stuff really.
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powerful nose; black tea, red fruit, and dried leaves. Sweet red cherries entry, rich fruit, oolong tea, with fully resolved tannins, and lengthy, anderson valley orange peel finish. maybe lacks the grip to go too much further, but great now.
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Given the notes and age 10 in a ripe vintage decided time to pop this one. PnP. Medium light red with clearing at the edge. Reticent light airy nose with various herbs and a hint of orange peel. On the palate medium weight and excellent balance with a long finish which just keeps echoing. This is more mineral and less red fruits than is typical for Anderson Valley - quite complex with nice secondary flavors. Nice surprise.
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Once again Ted nails a Burgundy styled wine from California. Wonderful earthy tones without the overt fruit found in most California Pinot. Drinking wonderfully now and I don't think it needs to or could gain any more from age.
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Popped and poured. Medium light red. Airy nose of red fruits and orange. Lovely depth and balance on the palate with largely resolved tannins but with a kick of citrus/orange on the finish which is very refreshing.
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Popped and poured. Medium light red; cool and airy nose of red fruits with some more complexity of tea and herbs. Elegant on the palate with sweet fruit on the finish; drinking very well but not at the top of the Littorai wines in terms of depth and complexity.
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Not quite three years after the last note, and the last bottle in the cellar. Now a murky crimson cranberry color, lighter than in its youth. Elegantly presents dusty cherry, light cranberry, asian tea, and cloves. Seems more compex than I recall, and ends with a gracefull clean finish. Not a big wine, checks in at 13.7% alcohol, but ageing nicely.
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Opened and not decanted. Strong flavors of flowers, roses, cinammon and spice. There is also a fatty, meaty undertone that gives it a flat taste to the wine. Ends with a drying and dried fruit finish. I think that the meaty component that I taste is more of the Savoy than of the wine making but I'm not 100% sure. Good.
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A wonderfully woodsy wine with lots of autumn leaf (with a wintergreen edge), damp earth, sappy cherry, an undertone of cassis and licorice and an intriguing oregano note. Plush on the palate with added dark chocolate. A little tannin and acid prickle on the lively, wet stone, dried herb, lavender finish. As expected, rather tight at this point and will benefit from another 2-3 years.
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Drank over a five hour period with and without food. Bottle was not flawed, but was just plain disappointing at this point in its life. Simple and one dimensional on the palate. A limited nose. Doesn't seem like it's at life's end, so wait to try another in a year or two.
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Opened not decanted. Showing some clarity at the edge of the glass that turns to a dark blood color in the center. Initial entry of black citrus with dried cherry and dark tastes. Noticeable oak which sucks out the moisture; ends with a dried fruit and dry finish. Well made. Good.
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i didn't embrace this wine at all. in comparison to the 04, this wine was just too much for me in that forest floor, scrub brush kind of thing; too rich and heavy feeling in the mouth. i want some lightness of being in the fruit department. this had none of that.
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Opened and decanted approximately 2-3 hours. First bottle of the evening. Nose almost had an off / flawed note to it, but it blew off with time. However, there was noticeable oak, and the wood suppressed the fruit. Very restrained with some dry tannins. Fair at this point in time.
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Dark, rich and extracted in style with a deep ruby color and floral scents. Impressive nose of flowers and red fruit. Still a bit tight and youthful but a nice full finish that ends with a bit of spice.
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This wine is very forward at the moment, but just needs some serious time to really shine...say 6-12 years? Maybe more. Excellent concentration and complexity. (Drank for $86 at Pumpjack Squaw.)
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Popped and poured (consumed over 2 hours). Initially quite tight and started to open up after an hour. In the glass, this wine exhibited a garnet/dark garnet color. On the nose, aromas of strawberries, raspberries and Bing cherries were complemented by notes of black tea and spice with hints of earthiness. On the palate, flavors of Bing cherries, cranberries and strawberries were highlighted by notes of earthiness and spice on the finish. Nice, silky texture with good acidity. This particular bottling did not show as well as the others... but there is definite potential there. HS90
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1/10/2022 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Wish I had purchased more of these.
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3/12/2021 - jjct Likes this wine:
Beautifully aromatic. Shows loads of dark fruit, along with mushroom and earthy flavors. Tertiary, bricking color. A bit of heat on the finish. Drinking nicely.
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1/21/2021 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Very pleasing.
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9/3/2020 - LoireFan wrote: 93 Points
Very, very pleasing. Maybe 94.
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7/14/2018 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruit, mushrooms, roses on the relatively complex nose. Tannins are integrated and pretty fine. Cherries and more red fruit on the palate. Medium+ finish.
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7/14/2018 - aagrawal wrote: 89 Points
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Francisca's (3047 Mission St)): Gorgeous nose with red fruit, allspice; palate is light, red fruit, simpler than the nose; finish short-medium. The nose was very promising, but the palate was a bit short and lacking in fruit, seemed like it was past its peak. 89
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4/16/2018 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
1.5 hour decant. Bright nose of allspice, red fruit and citrus, with very rich silky palate of fresh red raspberry. Potent back palate and fruity finish with fine balance. Markedly better than previous bottle, was that a one off or indicative of bottle variation?
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8/26/2017 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the best aged littorai I've had. Black tea, mushrooms, leaves, earth, dark dark dark and dry. Very much a thinking wine. Savoy and complex and yet you would guess 5 years old and not 12. I think I would have said corton or maybe pommard. Either way, this shows no sign of declining. Pretty amazing stuff really.
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5/29/2017 - Erik R. wrote: 93 Points
powerful nose; black tea, red fruit, and dried leaves. Sweet red cherries entry, rich fruit, oolong tea, with fully resolved tannins, and lengthy, anderson valley orange peel finish. maybe lacks the grip to go too much further, but great now.
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10/31/2016 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Doesn't seem at its peak yet.
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8/9/2016 - LoireFan wrote: 94 Points
Loved. First bottle ever of Littorai that I've loved.
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12/26/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Simply delicious! Not up to the last bottle, but that was a hard act to follow!
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3/29/2015 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
Given the notes and age 10 in a ripe vintage decided time to pop this one. PnP. Medium light red with clearing at the edge. Reticent light airy nose with various herbs and a hint of orange peel. On the palate medium weight and excellent balance with a long finish which just keeps echoing. This is more mineral and less red fruits than is typical for Anderson Valley - quite complex with nice secondary flavors. Nice surprise.
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11/15/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! Simply superb! The ethereal nose, complex palate, beautiful structure, and lingering finish. This is Pinot! Ted Lemon is the artisan!
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10/12/2014 - kstoddard Does not like this wine:
Nit a fan
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1/19/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious dark cherry and raspberries on the nose and palate with earth and smoke notes on a wonderful silky mouthfeel and long finish.
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12/7/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Once again Ted nails a Burgundy styled wine from California. Wonderful earthy tones without the overt fruit found in most California Pinot. Drinking wonderfully now and I don't think it needs to or could gain any more from age.
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1/31/2013 - rosenst1 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Medium light red. Airy nose of red fruits and orange. Lovely depth and balance on the palate with largely resolved tannins but with a kick of citrus/orange on the finish which is very refreshing.
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6/7/2012 - rosenst1 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Medium light red; cool and airy nose of red fruits with some more complexity of tea and herbs. Elegant on the palate with sweet fruit on the finish; drinking very well but not at the top of the Littorai wines in terms of depth and complexity.
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3/6/2011 - S. Lorin wrote:
came out flat with the prototypical cali cola profile - expected more complexity from Savoy
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1/29/2011 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
Not quite three years after the last note, and the last bottle in the cellar. Now a murky crimson cranberry color, lighter than in its youth. Elegantly presents dusty cherry, light cranberry, asian tea, and cloves. Seems more compex than I recall, and ends with a gracefull clean finish. Not a big wine, checks in at 13.7% alcohol, but ageing nicely.
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1/8/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and not decanted. Strong flavors of flowers, roses, cinammon and spice. There is also a fatty, meaty undertone that gives it a flat taste to the wine. Ends with a drying and dried fruit finish. I think that the meaty component that I taste is more of the Savoy than of the wine making but I'm not 100% sure. Good.
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11/27/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
A wonderfully woodsy wine with lots of autumn leaf (with a wintergreen edge), damp earth, sappy cherry, an undertone of cassis and licorice and an intriguing oregano note. Plush on the palate with added dark chocolate. A little tannin and acid prickle on the lively, wet stone, dried herb, lavender finish. As expected, rather tight at this point and will benefit from another 2-3 years.
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6/29/2009 - shaneajohnson wrote: 88 Points
Drank over a five hour period with and without food. Bottle was not flawed, but was just plain disappointing at this point in its life. Simple and one dimensional on the palate. A limited nose. Doesn't seem like it's at life's end, so wait to try another in a year or two.
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6/23/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Showing some clarity at the edge of the glass that turns to a dark blood color in the center. Initial entry of black citrus with dried cherry and dark tastes. Noticeable oak which sucks out the moisture; ends with a dried fruit and dry finish. Well made. Good.
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12/3/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 87 Points
i didn't embrace this wine at all. in comparison to the 04, this wine was just too much for me in that forest floor, scrub brush kind of thing; too rich and heavy feeling in the mouth. i want some lightness of being in the fruit department. this had none of that.
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12/2/2008 - Pool Boy wrote: 90 Points
Fine, but in need of time in the bottle Must keeps hands off. 90pts for now.
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8/31/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and decanted approximately 2-3 hours. First bottle of the evening. Nose almost had an off / flawed note to it, but it blew off with time. However, there was noticeable oak, and the wood suppressed the fruit. Very restrained with some dry tannins. Fair at this point in time.
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2/24/2008 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Dark, rich and extracted in style with a deep ruby color and floral scents. Impressive nose of flowers and red fruit. Still a bit tight and youthful but a nice full finish that ends with a bit of spice.
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1/13/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
This wine is very forward at the moment, but just needs some serious time to really shine...say 6-12 years? Maybe more. Excellent concentration and complexity. (Drank for $86 at Pumpjack Squaw.)
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1/12/2008 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured (consumed over 2 hours). Initially quite tight and started to open up after an hour. In the glass, this wine exhibited a garnet/dark garnet color. On the nose, aromas of strawberries, raspberries and Bing cherries were complemented by notes of black tea and spice with hints of earthiness. On the palate, flavors of Bing cherries, cranberries and strawberries were highlighted by notes of earthiness and spice on the finish. Nice, silky texture with good acidity. This particular bottling did not show as well as the others... but there is definite potential there. HS90
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11/17/2007 - jwwinec wrote:
Pretty tight right now - I can see why people say these need time. Lovely plush, almost pillowy texture, with subtle tannins providing some structure.
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