Best Lighter-styled Pinots coming out of CA

WINE TALK
#1

calling for your help here, berry.

I loooove me some Arcadian, but generally agree that finding Pinot of this ilk out of CA is just as much a minefield as many Burg. lovers make-out Burgundy to be. so … throw a dawg a bone people - what are some I should try?

edit: forgot to mention … the '06 Rhys Alpine I tried a couple weeks ago was very much up my alley – elegant, not overblown (imo).

EDIT: So, I went through this thread and made a comprehensive list of all that have been suggested.

Obviously, people are going to have different opinions about what constitutes “lighter-styled”; yes, this means you are not going to agree with all (or maybe any) of the wines listed here – please don’t let that get your panties all twisted.

Ancien
Anthill Farms
Arcadian
Au Bon Climat
B. Kosugue
Calera
Carneros Creek
Ceritas
Clos Pepe
Clos Saron
Cobb
Copain (recent vintages)
Dehlinger
Donum Estate
Drew - Fog Eater
Failla - Sonoma Coast
Freeman
George
Hirsch
Holdredge
Inman Family
Joseph Swan
Kalin Cellars
Keefer Ranch
Kendric
Kutch (recent stuff)
Ladd Cellars
Lato
Littorai
Lioco
McHenry
Mount Eden
Native9
Navarro (methode ancienne)
2008 Nicholson Vineyards
Peay
Pey-Marin (not Pey Lucia)
Phillips Hill
Porter Creek
Ravines (from Finger Lakes, NY)
Rhys
Rochioli
Saintsbury
Scherrer’s Appellation pinots
Skewis
Thomas Fogarty
Toulouse
Tyler
Varner
W.H. Smith
Walter Hansel
WesMar
Williams-Selyems (some)
Wind Gap
Windy Oaks
Woodenhead - Anderson Valley Wiley vineyard

– (updated through post #: 131) –

#2

a lot of people like Windy Oaks. Mr. McKay took us to taste there and it’s definitely in that style. I don’t think it has the focused fruit that Arcadian/Rhys have… but ppl like it!

#3

Some producers I feel value nuance, complexity and ageability over loudness and gloss. Some arent light.

Joseph Swan (my personal favorite)
Dehlinger
Porter Creek
Inman Family
Holdredge
Windy Oaks
Arcadian
Skewis

Havnt tried Rhys and the literaris (sp?) Ive tried seemed a little extracted to me.

Above isnt a complete list. Just names that spring immediatly to mind.

#4

I would also include Anthill Farms in this category.

#5

Definitely.

I’d throw Kutch in to the mix as well.

#6

Good call, Chris. Especially his younger efforts.

#7

My list of top-of-my-head add-ons is sort of like Berry’s in characteristics:

Hirsch
Calera
Clos Pepe (Wes’s wines)

#8

I’d add McHenry to the list. Nothing overblown about their pinots.

#9

I’m not sure I would include Clos Pepe in this category, which is not to say that I think his wines are ultra-ripe. They are neither light nor heavy, just extremely balanced in terms of fruit concentration, palate weight, and mouthfeel.

#10

How about Copain from recent vintages?

#11

As Jeff said, definitely McHenry.
And at $25, well worth the investment to see if it fits your style.

#12

Others: Varner, Pey-Marin, Kendric, certain Williams-Selyems, Ceritas…

TTT

#13

A distributor was saying the same thing a year or so ago and I tried some over the Summer. Their 06 Kiser had a nice subtlety with good acidity. Hopefully Copain continues in that direction.

Been hearing more positive things about recent Kutch vintages, but unlike a vocal majority, my tastes of the 05 and 06 were flat out disappointing. Second the Varner, had an excellent bottle of 05 Hidden block a few nights ago.

RT

#14

Ant Hill
Clos Saron
Copain
Hirsch
Inman
Kalin Cellars
Kutch
Littorai
Rhys
Swan
Wind Gap (Not released yet but a 2008 I tried at the winery was 12.5% abv and awesome)

#15

Lioco’s 2007 releases were amazing for my palate (and I can’t drink KB personally).

#16

Skewis…had a 2007 Peters Vineyard last night. Amazing nose and a finesse vs. power wine. Not a big syrupy pinot at all.

#17

Skewis makes world class wine IMO. And they age beautifully.

#18

True dat. I am still sitting on some '01 Bush Vineyard.

#19

Inman
Rhys
Copain (lately)
Calera
Mount Eden

I’d strike some of the names previously mentioned. Kutch for starters. Also, while I love Arcadian and Clos Saron, I would not describe either as lighter-styled. Arcadian is at least as dense as Dujac, which is certainly on the fuller side of the spectrum by Burgundy standards. Really, the only Cali. pinots I’ve ever had that you could call lighter-styled not just within the context of Cali. but compared to Burgundy as well are Inman and some wines from Calera once they reach age 10 or more.

#20

I agree - very balanced wines that are neither light nor big. And good acidity in general.