2009 Pivot Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Pinot Noir The Pivot Vineyard is a bright red color and is approachable and ripe with notes of ripe cherries, crushed herbs, forest earth, and hints of leather. It has a bit more warmth and ripeness, but it’s very nicely managed. I enjoy where this one is now, though it’s just past its prime drinking window, but it should have another 8-10 years ahead. The 2023 vintage marks the 30-year milestone for the Littorai family estate, and this tasting covers 21 wines from 1993 through 2023. Except for the 1993 Pinot Noir One Acre, all of the wines for this retrospective were tasted at the end of May in New York at Union Square Cafe. Readers can find the complete range of current releases in my regional report on Sonoma.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Deeper garnet than the 2012. Fruit and minerals with real punch on the palate. A touch of smokiness. Much richer and chunkier than the 2012. (JR)
The 2009 Pinot Noir The Pivot is one of the more delicate wines in this lineup of 2009 Pinots. Weightless and elegant, the Pivot impresses for its understated fruit and subtle floral notes. Crushed flowers, spices, dark red cherries and herbs add lift on the finish. This is another superb, classy wine from Littorai. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. I was totally blown away by the wines I tasted with proprietor Ted Lemon. These are some of the most refined, polished Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs being made in California today. I can’t recommend the wines highly enough. Lemon describes 2009 as a mild season with prolonged bloom that resulted in considerable shatter and a high amount of shot berries. There was no real heat to speak of in September. The 2010s were harvested during the first two weeks of October, much later than the 2009s. I also tasted a handful of 2010 Pinots from tank that appear promising, even if stylistically they aren’t as generous as the 2009s. Tel. (707) 823-9586; www.littorai.com
(13.8% alcohol; from vines planted in 2003): Good full red. Musky, slightly reduced aromas of redcurrant, plum, mocha, black tea, iron and tobacco, plus a whiff of rhubarb and pomegranate. Then supple, fleshy and smooth, with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of crunchy berries, spices and tea. Very distinctive wine, at once broad and weightless. With its peppery, spicy aftertaste, this conveys a strong whole-cluster character.
About the producer
Littorai stands as one of California’s most quietly influential estates, defined by organic and biodynamic farming, site transparency, and a restrained, Burgundian sensibility.