Very youthful on appearance- translucent garnet with a clear rim. On the nose: medium intensity, but still gorgeous, smells of dark raspberries, black cherries, cedar, spice box, and sous bois. There's something exotic lingering in the background that I can't quite put my finger on- sandalwood? Patchouli? Whatever it is, I'm interested! A lovely balance between the fruits of youth and tertiary notes of age.
In the mouth, medium minus body, medium high acidity, tannins are nearly resolved, fine and powdery in texture. Like the nose, flavors are caught between dark raspberry/cherry fruits and lovey spicy earth flavors that include cinnamon, cloves, and dark damp earth. Finish is long and very satisfying. Held up wonderfully over 5 hours of slow enjoyment. Elegant and classy, this rewards attention.
The Mays Canyon vineyard, aka Porter Bass, is one of the most special places I've ever visited. It's not nearly as spectacular as many other spots, but there is a beauty and energy there that is unmatched. This wine, in the hands of Ted Lemon, transmits the feeling of this place wonderfully. I'm always on the lookout for wines from this vineyard and this didn't disappoint. No rush to drink now, but for my palate, it's at a perfect spot in its evolution. Hope you can find some for yourself!
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Decanted for 30 minutes with some slight sediment. A bit better than our previous bottle earlier this month. The medium bodied palate showed light notes of black cherry, raspberry and pomegranate along with some spice, some earth and balancing acidity. Will probably hold for another few years.
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Decanted for 10 minutes. The medium bodied palate showed a somewhat restrained mix of red and black cherry, a touch of raspberry and some earth - with balancing acidity. Will probably hold for another few years.
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Red cherries, some raspberries, a bit of first floor, and blood orange flavors on the nose. Good acidity and medium tannins. Tart berries, pomegranate, and cherries on the palate. Good finish. Drinking well, but has the stuffing to age for another 5++ years.
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Lovely wine that’s just stepping into its sweet spot. Superbly balanced with bright acuity but leaning on tannins and terroir to carry the weight. Fruit is bright cherries but so much else is going on in a very restrained way. Delicious.
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PnP. Not much on the nose, fruit muted. This is in between full fruit and moving to a tertiary flavor state. Well made, but probably a few more years away from being something interesting.
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Aerated 90 minutes in decanter; no sign of age. Proved a worthy foil to a garlicky grilled pork tenderloin. Seems in an early secondary phase, with supple red fruit, and a structure that will keep this going for many years. I could see some drinking this on its own, but this begs for food in my world.
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Balanced, savory, with a touch of sweetness. But on the whole, and over two+ hours this was a simple, direct, and lacked any hint of tertiary flavors or anticipated complexity.
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Served with grilled pork chops, crispy parmesan potatoes, asparagus. Medium ruby/cherry, consistent to the rim. Nice color, no sign of age. Medium weight, fruit is cherry, and balance of acid. However the mean was very rich, and it overwhelmed the wine. I think the meal needed a good rich Zin (or equivalent) with some substance. Mea culpa.....Final drink post-eating was much nicer. Not fair to give a score based on my mistake.
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Clear nose of cherry, more red fruit, a bit of cola and spices. Tons of fruit on the palate, good balance and moderate length. Very nice, not quite ‘big’ but a wine of pleasure with some substance as well. Very good, only flaw lacking in complexity. Remarkable what Littorai does with what is usually one of their weaker crus.
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Popped and poured, and no need for aeration, as this was all about red fruit and floral tones from the word go. There was ample depth of fruit, solid acidity, and excellent length. Fun to drink now, it seemed to have several years ahead of it. Best with aromatic, but not too rich dishes.
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Started quite acidic on day one, but that integrated nicely over the two days this bottle was open. On the nose, there are cherries, cherry pie even, with some vanilla and crust, and a touch of pepper. On the palate, it's much better on day two than upon opening (and I decanted and drank over hours on day one). Cherries and strawberries, balanced with nice structure and bit of pepper. Really nice, snd obviously well-made, if not complex.
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Full, rich nose of ripe black cherry and spice. Palate has moderate richness and concentration with good juicy cut. Well-balanced and easy to enjoy. Clean, but a bit short in the finish.
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Decanted and drank with dinner over an hour. Well done for the style, less fruit driven than other RRVs and starting to show some maturation. Will continue to improve with time.
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At restaurant. Lacks some complexity, but otherwise gorgeous. Lots of cherry, some raspberry, licorice, clove, earth. Nice tannins (more than most pinots). Supple texture, crisp acidity, elegant wine. Long fruity finish.
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With sautéed pork loin in sauce over whipped parsnips. Medium/light ruby - touch of cherry, medium legs. Medium body, sour cherry, mouth watering acid. Nice mouth feel - good length. A touch of pepper, Needs more time.
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A light and pleasant, but somewhat thin, Pinot. Nose of forest floor and mint, light red in color. Tastes of sour cherry and herbs, but nowhere near the complexity I expected given the reviews and pedigree. 13.2% alcohol. Within this style (coastal / IPOB) of domestic PN, I prefer Rhys, Hirsch, or Kutch; they seem to offer more intensity of taste, while preserving the same sense of lightness / elegance.
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IPOB in SF 3/16 - Quick Impressions: Elegant with full richness. Darker profile than the Savoy or Les Larmes with sweet and silky red cherry notes along with savory spice and mineral-earth notes. Really nice.
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After the Kutch and Ceritas, this showed as the complete package. It had the elegance of the Ceritas with the depth and presence of the Kutch. Red/black fruit, subtle framing tannins, and a persistent earth element came through with every sip. After the "formal" tasting was over I went back to this wine - after the Syrahs and the Cabs had been worked through - and it was still a star. It stood up and took center stage, clearly showing as the most complete wine of the night. Magnificent.
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Had this with lunch at NoMad. Outside of high-end Burgundies, this is about the best expression of pinot noir one gan get. Velvety mouthfeel, great mixture of fruit, tannin and spice. Flirtatious and enchanting.
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7/21/2023 - NoahCap wrote:
Very youthful on appearance- translucent garnet with a clear rim. On the nose: medium intensity, but still gorgeous, smells of dark raspberries, black cherries, cedar, spice box, and sous bois. There's something exotic lingering in the background that I can't quite put my finger on- sandalwood? Patchouli? Whatever it is, I'm interested! A lovely balance between the fruits of youth and tertiary notes of age.
In the mouth, medium minus body, medium high acidity, tannins are nearly resolved, fine and powdery in texture. Like the nose, flavors are caught between dark raspberry/cherry fruits and lovey spicy earth flavors that include cinnamon, cloves, and dark damp earth. Finish is long and very satisfying. Held up wonderfully over 5 hours of slow enjoyment. Elegant and classy, this rewards attention.
The Mays Canyon vineyard, aka Porter Bass, is one of the most special places I've ever visited. It's not nearly as spectacular as many other spots, but there is a beauty and energy there that is unmatched. This wine, in the hands of Ted Lemon, transmits the feeling of this place wonderfully. I'm always on the lookout for wines from this vineyard and this didn't disappoint. No rush to drink now, but for my palate, it's at a perfect spot in its evolution. Hope you can find some for yourself!
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4/29/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes with some slight sediment. A bit better than our previous bottle earlier this month. The medium bodied palate showed light notes of black cherry, raspberry and pomegranate along with some spice, some earth and balancing acidity. Will probably hold for another few years.
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4/11/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 10 minutes. The medium bodied palate showed a somewhat restrained mix of red and black cherry, a touch of raspberry and some earth - with balancing acidity. Will probably hold for another few years.
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3/15/2022 - jlgnml wrote: 90 Points
Pleasant, good fruit, bright color. Drink/Sell
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2/20/2022 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
45 min decant, enjoyable, yet very light fruit n the palate.
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12/12/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red cherries, some raspberries, a bit of first floor, and blood orange flavors on the nose. Good acidity and medium tannins. Tart berries, pomegranate, and cherries on the palate. Good finish. Drinking well, but has the stuffing to age for another 5++ years.
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10/25/2020 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Lovely wine that’s just stepping into its sweet spot. Superbly balanced with bright acuity but leaning on tannins and terroir to carry the weight. Fruit is bright cherries but so much else is going on in a very restrained way. Delicious.
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10/19/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely red cherry, raspberry, spice, and floral notes on the nose and palate with simply delicious acidity on the long savory finish.
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9/17/2020 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Not much on the nose, fruit muted. This is in between full fruit and moving to a tertiary flavor state. Well made, but probably a few more years away from being something interesting.
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9/13/2020 - kcp wrote: 90 Points
First of three bottles. I'm being generous here. Fruit profile wasn't typical, wine turned acidic after dinner.
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8/23/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Aerated 90 minutes in decanter; no sign of age. Proved a worthy foil to a garlicky grilled pork tenderloin. Seems in an early secondary phase, with supple red fruit, and a structure that will keep this going for many years. I could see some drinking this on its own, but this begs for food in my world.
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5/14/2020 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
17 months after the prior: beautifully balanced. But again a bit lacking in expected tertiary character. Still, very enjoyable over three nights.
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6/28/2019 - jdinkin1 wrote: 91 Points
A bigger wine at first. At end of meal was balanced and delicious.
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10/26/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Balanced, savory, with a touch of sweetness. But on the whole, and over two+ hours this was a simple, direct, and lacked any hint of tertiary flavors or anticipated complexity.
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3/18/2018 - bjschmitt Likes this wine:
Served with grilled pork chops, crispy parmesan potatoes, asparagus.
Medium ruby/cherry, consistent to the rim. Nice color, no sign of age.
Medium weight, fruit is cherry, and balance of acid.
However the mean was very rich, and it overwhelmed the wine. I think the meal needed a good rich Zin (or equivalent) with some substance.
Mea culpa.....Final drink post-eating was much nicer.
Not fair to give a score based on my mistake.
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3/17/2018 - moz9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is what I love in a Pinot
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2/26/2018 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear nose of cherry, more red fruit, a bit of cola and spices. Tons of fruit on the palate, good balance and moderate length. Very nice, not quite ‘big’ but a wine of pleasure with some substance as well. Very good, only flaw lacking in complexity. Remarkable what Littorai does with what is usually one of their weaker crus.
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1/26/2018 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Popped and poured, and no need for aeration, as this was all about red fruit and floral tones from the word go. There was ample depth of fruit, solid acidity, and excellent length. Fun to drink now, it seemed to have several years ahead of it. Best with aromatic, but not too rich dishes.
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10/15/2017 - winelover1808 wrote: 93 Points
elegant, sweet with enough acidity to balance it out. maybe hitting its peak at year 5?
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10/10/2017 - WineGold Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light and easy-breezy.
Started quite acidic on day one, but that integrated nicely over the two days this bottle was open. On the nose, there are cherries, cherry pie even, with some vanilla and crust, and a touch of pepper. On the palate, it's much better on day two than upon opening (and I decanted and drank over hours on day one). Cherries and strawberries, balanced with nice structure and bit of pepper. Really nice, snd obviously well-made, if not complex.
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8/13/2017 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Full, rich nose of ripe black cherry and spice. Palate has moderate richness and concentration with good juicy cut. Well-balanced and easy to enjoy. Clean, but a bit short in the finish.
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1/18/2017 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted and drank with dinner over an hour. Well done for the style, less fruit driven than other RRVs and starting to show some maturation. Will continue to improve with time.
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1/18/2017 - Chateaux Baer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of white pepper, fresh raspberry. Fresh
Soft and subtitle on the palate.
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12/14/2015 - Bbaldinger wrote: 92 Points
- Purple color.
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12/7/2015 - budh wrote: 91 Points
At restaurant. Lacks some complexity, but otherwise gorgeous. Lots of cherry, some raspberry, licorice, clove, earth. Nice tannins (more than most pinots). Supple texture, crisp acidity, elegant wine. Long fruity finish.
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10/17/2015 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
With sautéed pork loin in sauce over whipped parsnips.
Medium/light ruby - touch of cherry, medium legs.
Medium body, sour cherry, mouth watering acid. Nice mouth feel - good length. A touch of pepper,
Needs more time.
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4/25/2015 - msuwine wrote: 89 Points
A light and pleasant, but somewhat thin, Pinot. Nose of forest floor and mint, light red in color. Tastes of sour cherry and herbs, but nowhere near the complexity I expected given the reviews and pedigree. 13.2% alcohol. Within this style (coastal / IPOB) of domestic PN, I prefer Rhys, Hirsch, or Kutch; they seem to offer more intensity of taste, while preserving the same sense of lightness / elegance.
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3/19/2015 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
IPOB in SF 3/16 - Quick Impressions: Elegant with full richness. Darker profile than the Savoy or Les Larmes with sweet and silky red cherry notes along with savory spice and mineral-earth notes. Really nice.
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1/31/2015 - Rieslingfan wrote:
After the Kutch and Ceritas, this showed as the complete package. It had the elegance of the Ceritas with the depth and presence of the Kutch. Red/black fruit, subtle framing tannins, and a persistent earth element came through with every sip. After the "formal" tasting was over I went back to this wine - after the Syrahs and the Cabs had been worked through - and it was still a star. It stood up and took center stage, clearly showing as the most complete wine of the night. Magnificent.
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12/18/2014 - Hebrew Hammer wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color.
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9/12/2014 - GeccoPM wrote: 94 Points
Had this with lunch at NoMad. Outside of high-end Burgundies, this is about the best expression of pinot noir one gan get. Velvety mouthfeel, great mixture of fruit, tannin and spice. Flirtatious and enchanting.
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8/2/2014 - yeti575rider wrote: 91 Points
WoW Grand Tasting - Sebastapol. Another of the excellent Littorai 2012 lineup. No detailed notes.
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