I have marked on my calendar that Littorai’s spring release is today at 11am CST, but I can’t find the offer letter with the details. Anyone have this? Also, who’s in and thoughts on the release?
I’m thinking they will offer all the 2012 vineyard designates plus what may be left over from Fall release of 2012 appellation wines.
I’m a buyer but the wines are on the more expensive side for sure and freight is higher than most as I recall (a factor for you and me out here in the middle). I find these wines to be what I look for in CA pinot and chard - terroir driven, balanced, age worthy. If you are not familiar with the style, I’d say cousins to Anthill, Copain and Peay rather than more extracted and/or fruit forward producers.
The email that went out didn’t have any details on the offer…
I just went into their system and this is what I saw as available. The Playy ships in April, all others ship in October
2012 Platt Vineyard Pinot Noir 750 ml -$65
Bright, almost Grenache-like jump-out-of -the-glass aromas. Freshly picked cherry and raspberry. The fruits are very dominant now. Rich supple entry, this is a generous 2012 with very moderate tannins for the vintage and mouth watering acidity. This is one of the most approachable of the 2012s now and it will be difficult to resist drinking it right away
2012 The Pivot Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 750ml - $70
While the Pivot and Platt share very similar soils, exposition and plant materials, the Pivot is always the more savory and earthy of the two wines. Wild herbs, black cherry, briary notes, cocoa powder. This wine shares the bright acidity of Platt but there is significantly more tannin, grip and concentration. This wine requires some patience and will need time to fully develop.
2012 Savoy Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 750ml -$65
Savoy shares the more gentle integrated tannins of Platt but shows more aromatic complexity now. Spice tones of Christmas cake and cooking herbs such as savory and thyme jump out of the glass and interestingly, the pure youthful fruit tones emerge only after a few moments: cherry, raspberry and a hint of blackberry. The palate is supple and integrated with a lovely richness throughout which finally yields to somewhat sneaky, significant tannins. This is a fine, complex and subtle bottling of Savoy which should improve and grow in layers over many years
2012 Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 750ml -$70
Aromas of graphite, antique drawer, pomegranate, cassis and red bartlet pear. As always this is a very structured wine with significant tannins dominating lovely underlying richness. This version of Cerise has both more tannin and more richness than the 2011 version. It requires patience and cellaring but already shows the aromatic complexity which should make it a great example of the 2012 vintage. Long finish
2012 Mays Canyon Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 750ml -$70
Cranberry, red apple, brandied cherries, fig, rose petals and raspberry aromas, forest floor. As always, this site shows mouth coating tannins with great acidity. This is a somewhat shy, serious wine for now. With time it will blossom. Mays Canyon always requires some time in the bottle to come around. Incidently, the 2004 from very young vines remains amazingly youthful and drinks wonderfully now
2012 Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 750ml -$70
Huckleberry, plum, black cherry, hint medicinal, white pepper and earthy notes. This is a very dense and firmly tannic version of Hirsch which will require some time in bottle to begin to open up. The finish hints at what the wine will become as it blossoms at the end of the palate. Another bottling where patience is required. Will not disappoint.
In addition to the above, also (all 2012):
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $46
Mays Canyon Chardonnay $70
Charles Heintz Chardonnay $70
B.A. Theiriot Chardonnay $70
Roman Pinot Noir $70
Haven Pinot Noir $80
Vin Gris 2013 $28
I don’t see Theiriot or One Acre Pinots (at least in my allocations).
My favorite producer in CA so I always go big with them. I also didn’t see Theiriot or One Acre Pinots.
The e-mail just arrived in my inbox… Ted’s assessment of all the wines in the release are here:
http://www.littorai.com/userfiles/file/Final2012mailerVintageNoteFromLemons.pdf
Email is in. It lists the Theiriot and One Acre Pinots (as well as Tributary Chardonnay) but no allocation for me. Other than that allocations are largely unrestricted (limited to 6 bottles on the SV Chardonnays and 12 on the Roman), possibly reflective of the large 2012 vintage, although past experience suggests they do sell out.
I see the same issue with One Acre and Theiriot. My third year ordering, so perhaps these are very restricted.
Can’t believe they are shipping in mid-April…not ideal for those of us in warmer locales (I ship to Dallas)
I will ask them about the option to hold until Fall…would be better for consolidating for lower freight costs anyway (I’m probably looking at 6 Spring release and 6 Fall release wines)
If anyone can spare a Hirsch and Mays Canyon Please PM me.
Thank you in advance.
Been on the list for over ten years and was able to order what I wanted. Not quite as easy as Rhys from a process perspective, but I figured it out.
I’m on the site as well. I was only offered the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and the pinots noted above. That’s okay (2 years on the list). I was underwelmed by a Savoy PN last year but overwelmed by a Heintz Chardonnay last weekend. Looking forward to trying the lesser Chardonnay (repeatedly) in the coming years.
As I get older I appreciate whites more and more. Am I getting soft?
A little surprised at the price point for the regular Sonoma Chard ($46). Really liked the '11 tasted at the winery a year ago, but remember it being $35 or so.
Still may pick up a couple, along with some of the Vin Gris. Avoiding the rest for now.
Robert - I thought of trying a bottle of Vin Gris but it is handled as a sperate shipment with seperate charge - $22 for one bottle. deleted
You’ll see it at check out. A bit off putting. It would be helpful if they could come up with a way to decrease (or abosrb) some of the shipping cost.
Good to know…that would be a deal breaker, no doubt.
Did you disappear on Berserkerday when there were 489076587 offers for you to sink your teeth into? I don’t recall seeing a post from you and I was sure you’d be all over it.
Snooze you lose on this one. I’ve been on the list since 1999 so got a good offering. Last year I was travelling and missed the email and got shut out. The taxes and shipping make this an expensive proposition, but I swallowed hard and went ahead. Hard to deny that this is good merchandise.
It’s very good merchandise and some of the offerings were already disappearing within hours of release.
I really like all of their chards and most of the PN. Trouble is I don’t order enough to get allocated the Mays, Theiriot chards and I don’t want to order just to move up on the list. It’s a real catch-22. Also, they have a killer release party at the winery with great food and most if not all wines open for a taste.
I don’t see anything missing other than the one acre and theiriot pinots i was never offered.