Best Lighter-styled Pinots coming out of CA

[M_Dildine]

Windy Oaks and Rhys are my “Pinot-Light” go-tos. They both have “Burgundian aspirations” IMO, but I love the wines in spite of this.

Impeccable Santa Cruz Mt. fruit sources that will only improve with time.

Love Kutch also - but consider it to be in a somewhat riper, more full-bodied style?

[Berry_Crawford]

@Keith Levenberg

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.

I dont think he meant litterally “lighter”. Im guessing he means Pinots with less over-the-top ripeness and more structure (ie balanced). Swan for example can have lots of fresh fruit in the baby period typically but they age very well on the balanced structure. They are much less ripe tasting but the Trenton for example is a pretty big wine.

[WesHagen]

I try to make them elegant, and I pick rather early, but the ClosJo always has a different idea.

There’s a lot of built in verve in this here dirt…

[Steven_Rigisich]

Brian,

If your standard is Arcadian (it is a good standard), I think there are many wines produced in the same style that you would find close to Joe’s quality. However, IMHO, I don’t align the “lighter” style you speak of with Joe’s pinots. Joe makes wines of depth and character, greatly balanced and complete. But, with the exception being the SLH, I wouldn’t call them feminine or light.

If you want light pinots, ones that are such in flavor, color and body, I would suggest WesMar, Lioco, Scherrer’s Appellation pinots, Phillips Hill, Toulouse, Carneros Creek to name a few.

Copian, Native9, Tyler, B. Kosugue, Clos Pepe, Inman are more like Arcadian in style and body.

However, what I would really suggest is you drink teh best of all the styles. That is what pinot has to offer that no other variety can; great quality in a breadth of different forms. But that is a whole different conversation…

Regards,
Steve

[Jason_Hagen]

These are always fun. I would certainly put Copain near the top and would generally stick to Anderson Valley. I think the other issue is to pay attention to the vintage for each region.

Not to pile on because I don’t think I have any that aren’t mentioned:

Clop Pepe - Vintage dependant
Rhys Estate - not Alesia
Mt Eden - not Saratoga
Swan
Pey Marin - not Pey Lucia
Littorai

In the end, lighter styled CA pinot is a bit of an oxy moron. Some how Burt (sp) Williams did it … and hopefully he’ll do it again.

Jason

[Rob_MacKay]

@Jeff Fish

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

+1 on this. Their 06 Estate only has 12.8% abv. Very enjoyable and very Burgundian style.

Windy Oaks is pretty close as well but some bottlings need time to integrate the oak.

[Cris_Whetstone]

I think the main ones are covered.

But like others I always wonder how Kutch gets mentioned as being this style. Unless they have some extreme bottle variation the wines have been quite the opposite to me. Big, fruit forward and oaky.

[Keith_Levenberg]

My experience as well Cris, including the '07s which people said represented a style change.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Berry Crawford

@Keith Levenberg

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.

I dont think he meant litterally “lighter”. Im guessing he means Pinots with less over-the-top ripeness and more structure (ie balanced). Swan for example can have lots of fresh fruit in the baby period typically but they age very well on the balanced structure. They are much less ripe tasting but the Trenton for example is a pretty big wine.

exactly … bad choice of wording on my part. thanks, berry.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

wow … I’ll be printing this thread and using it as my Pinot shopping list for the next year or two … ya’ll are awesome! keep ‘em coming!! … and I do agree that many (most) of Joe’s Pinots are not “lighter-styled” (that was bad wording by me ) … but ya’ll have clearly picked-up on what I meant , so there’s obviously no need for me to clarify.

[Rick_Smith]

I’ve only had Kutch a few times, but don’t find it matching what is being looked for here.

What next? Someone suggesting Kosta Browne?

[Berry_Crawford]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

wow … I’ll be printing this thread and using it as my Pinot shopping list for the next year or two … ya’ll are awesome! keep ‘em coming!! … and I do agree that many (most) of Joe’s Pinots are not “lighter-styled” (that was bad wording by me ) … but ya’ll have clearly picked-up on what I meant , so there’s obviously no need for me to clarify.

Someone mentioned WesMar. Thats a great suggestion. Great wines.

[Mark_Cochard]

I don’t know if I would characterize as best, but certainly lighter styled an good value is Navarro’s Méthode à l’Ancienne.

[Berry_Crawford]

@Mark Cochard

I don’t know if I would characterize as best, but certainly lighter styled an good value is Navarro’s Méthode à l’Ancienne.

I opened a 2005 and it had so much brett I gave away my other bottles

[Chris_Presutti]

@Rick Smith

I’ve only had Kutch a few times, but don’t find it matching what is being looked for here.

What next? Someone suggesting Kosta Browne?

The first Kutch bottlings were done with Mike Browne’s assistance, hence the heavier style. However, subsequent vintages when it’s only Jamie are far more restrained, elegant, and certainly lighter in style. It’s all relative so I don’t really think there’s a wrong answer given yet in this thread. The existence of lighter styled Pinot than Kutch does disqualify Kutch as a lighter styled Pinot.

Rick, next time you visit, I’ll open any KB in my cellar and we’ll compare it to an '07 Kutch. I’ll bet we’ll find the Kutch substantially lighter in style, weight, and density without question. These may not be polar opposites but they most certainly aren’t of the same style (anymore).

[Mark_Cochard]

@Berry Crawford

@Mark Cochard

I don’t know if I would characterize as best, but certainly lighter styled an good value is Navarro’s Méthode à l’Ancienne.

I opened a 2005 and it had so much brett I gave away my other bottles

Hey first time I heard this about their pinots. I have been drinking this wine annually for over 10 years and never noticed Brett. I’m somewhat brett insensitive, but now I’ll crack an 07 and see if it is there, since now I know to look for it.

[Bud_Carey]

@Chris Presutti

@Rick Smith

I’ve only had Kutch a few times, but don’t find it matching what is being looked for here.

What next? Someone suggesting Kosta Browne?

The first Kutch bottlings were done with Mike Browne’s assistance, hence the heavier style. However, subsequent vintages when it’s only Jamie are far more restrained, elegant, and certainly lighter in style. It’s all relative so I don’t really think there’s a wrong answer given yet in this thread. The existence of lighter styled Pinot than Kutch does disqualify Kutch as a lighter styled Pinot.

Rick, next time you visit, I’ll open any KB in my cellar and we’ll compare it to an '07 Kutch. I’ll bet we’ll find the Kutch substantially lighter in style, weight, and density without question. These may not be polar opposites but they most certainly aren’t of the same style (anymore).

Chris, You’re right. We barrel tasted Jamie’s 08s, and they were definitely lighter in style, AND in alcohol. I think they all came in between 13 and 14%.

[Rick_Smith]

I’ve only had a couple of vintages, but how about Roessler’s Savoy?

[Peter_Simpson]

@Mark Cochard

@Berry Crawford

@Mark Cochard

I don’t know if I would characterize as best, but certainly lighter styled an good value is Navarro’s Méthode à l’Ancienne.

I opened a 2005 and it had so much brett I gave away my other bottles

Hey first time I heard this about their pinots. I have been drinking this wine annually for over 10 years and never noticed Brett. I’m somewhat brett insensitive, but now I’ll crack an 07 and see if it is there, since now I know to look for it.

No brett in my bottles of Navarro Pinot, I suspect Berry was actually drinking a Burgundy and got confused.

I third Joseph Swan, in particular the Saralees’s.

[Berry_Crawford]

@Peter Simpson

No brett in my bottles of Navarro Pinot, I suspect Berry was actually drinking a Burgundy and got confused.

stinky bluecheesy poopy smell. pretty sure it was brett.

@Peter Simpson

I third Joseph Swan, in particular the Saralees’s.

Over Trenton Estate?