Cary, no question - there is a cost associated with Littorai’s advanced and comprehensive sustainable process flow. These are processes that I would think only a very small (Littorai produces 4,000 cases per year), very high quality producer can afford to maintain. This ethic and discipline will not be appreciated by everyone.
I do agree with you that the RM wines tend to be a bit more fruit forward than the wines by Littorai but I do think their respective alcohol levels tend to be in the same range; 13%- low 14%. The 2009 RM Summa OV was bottled at 13.2% which I think was one of their lowest.
I have been meaning to try all three wines side by side and will hopefully do so in the next few weeks. The 2006’s seem to be drinking well so I will probably start there.
In my admittedly small experience with the RM Summa I agree wholeheartedly. A crying shame that Littorai has lost this vineyard source.
To address the chardonnay question, the Littorai ones are amazing. Ted is making my favorite chardonnay in the US and the only one I buy in any quantity for the cellar to go along with the white burgs.
Went to pick my wines today and talked with Ted, No more Summa.
A bottle of 2006 Littorai Summa a few months ago was my introduction to Littorai.
What a revelation.
Really distinctive California Pinot.
I was lucky to score a few more bottles at a pretty good price.
I decided to do some more exploration.
When I made the reservation for the tasting at Littorai, I was informed that 2008 was the last vintage for Littorai Summa.
We tasted 2008 SVD’s, but Summa was already sold out.
I was a little worried, but they are making great wine from their other vineyards as well.
I was particularly taken with 2008 The Pivot, 2008 The Haven, 2008 Chardonnay Charles Heintz and I was very pleasantly surprised by the “entry level” 2010 Les Larmes.
All beautiful wines.
Very happy to have discovered Littorai.
They make nice enough wines but I don’t think I’ve ever had one that approached compelling. And the pricing as Rico mentioned is certainly aggressive. I can say these same things about so many Cali producers. I think they get extra credit for the style and narrative, which isn’t unique to them, without actually churning out great wines.
To each his own. I have had more Littorai wines than I can count (mostly pinots but a few chards) that I put firmly in the “compelling” category. So clearly for me the admittedly aggressive pricing is something I’m willing to soak up. As for the style and narrative, the greatness of the wines far predates their love affair with all things bio-dynamic.
I certainly wasn’t implying anything about bio-dynamic. I was only referring to Lemon’s experience and the ‘restraint’ the wines are said to offer.