Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Calif., 2016 Littorai Pinot Noir Block E Wendling Vineyard. Light ruby, viscous (13.4 alc.); bright red fruit nose; strawberries; low-mid acids; mid tannins; balanced; slight short red fruit finish; refined style. 16.5/91.
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Mid light red, on the nose cherries, cranberries and damsons though was dumb at first. A smooth unidimensional wine with a long finish promised more eventually. The acidity was pronounced indicating that it could cope with any choice of food pairing. This was the first of twelve bottles and I followed the wine over 26 hours. The nose eventually became more complex but the palate hardly changed. Eventually we had a lean unidimensional wine with a long finish. Disappointing if you wanted complexity and nuance (think Rhys) but I guess that “Burgundian” winemakers on the West Coast of the USA eschew any semblance of a “fruit bubble” because they feel it sets them apart from the herd. I have drunk too many Burgundies like this (always waiting) only to be disappointed after a very long wait. I hope I am wrong but somehow I doubt it..
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I didn’t take tasting notes and now this event is past detailed recall range, but I recall thinking this wine was starting to show well and probably ready at the start of its window if one is patient with the glass and decants
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My 1st of 8 bottles bought shortly after release, this is still too young and precocious. Ripe red cherry and berry with sweet baking spice. This is very harmonious with lots of nuance, not so much power. Very long, seamless finish. Certainly upside from here, 91-92+ point potential.
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Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Loving how this opened up. Rose/cherry blossom petals sprinkle a big basket of fresh, vibrant red berries. The translation of the elegant juiciness of the berries moves to a palate-opening acidity and a soft spoken tea-like finish.
Drank over a full course ranging from cheese, tinned fish, rare denver steak, bone marrow and ginger beef noodles. This wine lifted everything through the whole meal. What a versatile wine! Rarely do you see such a light feeling wine hold itself up against such a range of flavors.
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12/8/2023 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Calif., 2016 Littorai Pinot Noir Block E Wendling Vineyard. Light ruby, viscous (13.4 alc.); bright red fruit nose; strawberries; low-mid acids; mid tannins; balanced; slight short red fruit finish; refined style. 16.5/91.
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10/22/2023 - BigGrack wrote: 91 Points
Mid light red, on the nose cherries, cranberries and damsons though was dumb at first. A smooth unidimensional wine with a long finish promised more eventually. The acidity was pronounced indicating that it could cope with any choice of food pairing. This was the first of twelve bottles and I followed the wine over 26 hours. The nose eventually became more complex but the palate hardly changed. Eventually we had a lean unidimensional wine with a long finish. Disappointing if you wanted complexity and nuance (think Rhys) but I guess that “Burgundian” winemakers on the West Coast of the USA eschew any semblance of a “fruit bubble” because they feel it sets them apart from the herd. I have drunk too many Burgundies like this (always waiting) only to be disappointed after a very long wait. I hope I am wrong but somehow I doubt it..
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9/6/2023 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine:
I didn’t take tasting notes and now this event is past detailed recall range, but I recall thinking this wine was starting to show well and probably ready at the start of its window if one is patient with the glass and decants
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3/21/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
My 1st of 8 bottles bought shortly after release, this is still too young and precocious. Ripe red cherry and berry with sweet baking spice. This is very harmonious with lots of nuance, not so much power. Very long, seamless finish. Certainly upside from here, 91-92+ point potential.
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8/1/2022 - SH Wu wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Loving how this opened up. Rose/cherry blossom petals sprinkle a big basket of fresh, vibrant red berries. The translation of the elegant juiciness of the berries moves to a palate-opening acidity and a soft spoken tea-like finish.
Drank over a full course ranging from cheese, tinned fish, rare denver steak, bone marrow and ginger beef noodles. This wine lifted everything through the whole meal. What a versatile wine! Rarely do you see such a light feeling wine hold itself up against such a range of flavors.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment